THE driver of a black Suzuki Ignis was found dead and passengers injured after an apparent attempt to beat the curfew hours.
According to the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service (TTPS) reports on Sunday, Ryan Rampath, 23, was proceeding north along Sir Solomon Hochoy Highway around 8.55pm on Saturday when the he lost control of the vehicle and veered off the road on the western side of the highway.
Officers of the Traffic and Highway Patrol Branch found the driver lying motionless in the vehicle. District Medical Officer Dr Charles also visited the scene and pronounced the driver dead.
Four passengers who were injured were taken by the Trinidad and Tobago Fire Service Ambulance to the Couva Hospital.
The TTPS Road Safety Coordinator Sergeant Brent Batson believed the time of collision and cause for the severity of the damage to the vehicle and its occupants was due to high speed travel in order to beat the 9pm curfew.
Sgt Batson said, “The TTPS maintains its visibility and vigilance during curfew hours and will consider only reasonable explanations such as going to the hospital or airport, once justified, would be entertained.”
The TTPS also reminded motorists and citizens to exercise the greatest degree of responsibility while commuting on the roadways by managing their time to ensure compliance with the curfew requirements without placing themselves and other persons at risk.
Sgt Batson said, “There is no need to risk life and limb to try to speed to get to your destination quickly.”
He said, “The curfew is a tool implemented by the State to support public safety during the pandemic and disobeying road safety regulations is an antithesis to its goal to help save lives.”
For 2021, 51 persons have died in road traffic accidents compared to 64 for the same period last year.
And the TTPS also extended condolences to the Rampath family for the loss of their loved one who died in the road traffic accident.
