tidings
Laurel V Williams
Four policemen were injured in an accident on Sunday after going on extra duty at a party at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy in Tarouba.
The injured men are PC St John, Edwards, Colvis and Li, all from the Port of Spain Court and Process Unit. They were taken to the San Fernando General Hospital where they remained until Sunday afternoon.
Two civilians, Tesfa Defour and a friend, identified only as Shane, received minor injuries. They were checked by doctors at the scene and allowed to leave.
The crash happened at the intersection of Brian Lara Stadium Road and Gasparillo ByPass Road around 10:30am. The officers and two civilians were leaving the FOC Colors Of Pandora slice at the academy.
Southern Division Supt Richard Smith said the officers were in a white panel van driven by St John.
The van is said to have exited the access road and turned right. A Nissan Cefiro driven by DeFour, which was going in the same direction, collided with the van.
The van reversed, ejecting two of the officers. He partially sat in the car on the side of the road.
Smith said, “The driver was trapped in the front seat while the other was able to get out on his own. All of the officers sustained serious injuries. One sustained back and shoulder injuries. He sustained major cuts. I was the first responder here from the police.”
Newsday spoke briefly with Defour at the scene. He said he was leaving the slip road and heading straight across the road.
“The information is hazy at the moment. I was leaving the link road, heading straight (towards a road leading to a T&TEC substation).”
“The van was behind and turning right from the link road. The accident happened at the intersection. I just feel the crash and we ended up there,” he said, pointing to the wreckage.
Insp Lewis, Cpl Richardson, PC Jackman and other officers visited the scene.
Richardson of the Gasparillo Police Station is leading the investigation.
