Chief Fire Officer Marlon Gentle has refuted a letter writer’s claim that the fire engine that was involved in an accident with businessman Frank De Abreu on Sunday at the junction of Lamaha and Irving streets was initially travelling north on Vlissengen and then turned west into Lamaha Street.
Gentle said that all of the statements they collected from witnesses verify the report of the firemen who were on the truck at the time that they were on Irving Street travelling north when they collided with the car.
“Really? Where did that come from? I find that amusing … It is not true …,” Gentle said when contacted about the letter writer’s claim which was published in yesterday’s newspaper.
The letter writer claimed that the truck was travelling up the wrong side of Vlissengen Road when it attempted to cross over to Irving Street via Lamaha Street and collided with the businessman’s car.
However, Gentle said that the fire service carried out independent investigations and interviewed over ten persons who all told the same story.
“I find it strange that persons being so critical of us would omit such important details. It just is not true. From what that person said it just would not make any sense …,” he noted.
The fire chief said what should be remembered and reinforced to road users is the observance of the rules when it comes to emergency vehicles and in Sunday’s case these were clearly not observed.
“That person can also make their report and we welcome it as police is still carrying out investigations and will ultimately determine exactly what happened,” Gentle said, adding that CCTV cameras that are at the junction will be able to tell how the accident happened.
