Matthew’s Ridge accident victims died of fractured spines, other injuries

The father and son killed when the lumber truck they were travelling in toppled into a ravine at Matthew’s Ridge died from fractured spines while the third victim died from multiple injuries, post-mortem examinations have revealed.

Government pathologist Dr. Nehaul Singh travelled to the area yesterday and conducted the PMEs on Fabian and Trevor Abrams of Matthew’s Ridge and Deon Baptiste of Port Kaituma, North West District.

Reports are that the three men were killed and two others injured after they were pinned by lumber. The incident occurred at Papaya Turn, called ‘Hill Seven,’ around 5pm on Sunday.
According to reports, the Abramses and Baptiste died before rescuers could reach them.

A young man, identified only as ‘O’Neil’ of Moruca and another man, whose identity this newspaper was unable to ascertain, sustained wounds to various parts of their bodies.

While the circumstances surrounding the incident are unclear, this newspaper had been told that the group was heading out of the backdam area and as the vehicle got to a turn on the hill, the driver, Godfrey Austin, lost control. The vehicle then toppled several times, resulting in the Abramses and Baptiste being pitched several feet into the air.

Austin, who sustained a wound to his forehead, had to be hospitalized after his “sugar and blood pressure went up.”