(Trinidad Express) An infant boy who fell asleep in the back seat of his father’s car, died yesterday afternoon when the vehicle suddenly caught fire and burned.
Three-year-old Prince Francette suffered 100 per cent burns, and by the time he was taken to hospital, he was unresponsive.
He died within hours.
Police were told that at around 2 p.m. the child crept into the family’s car at their Cito Lane, Tabaquite home, while his father Justine Francette was working on the vehicle – a Nissan March.
The infant fell asleep in the back seat of the vehicle.
Police were told that while the father was nearby, the car burst into flames.
The family made a frantic attempt to get the boy out of the vehicle.
However, they were unable to immediately reach the child as the blaze was too intense.
They used a hose to douse the boy while they tried to get him out.
By the time the child was removed, his burns were mortal.
A video circulating on social media showed the child being sprayed with hosed by relatives sprinkling water onto the child. The child was heard crying in pain while relatives spoke to him.
His grandmother was heard calling on people to “keep wetting him, cool him down, and that “two ambulance coming”.
She was heard telling the dying boy “Princy, Granma love you”.
The Couva Fire Station was contacted.
The child was rushed to the San Fernando General Hospital where there was a heated confrontation with a hospital attendant. The Express was told that a female relative slapped the attendant. It is uncertain if there was police intervention in the matter.
The gutted car has been impounded by police as part of the investigation to determine what triggered the explosion.
Chairman of the Couva/Tabaquite/Talparo Regional Corporation Henry Awong, who knows the family told the Express yesterday: “The entire community is saddened by this. I will lend whatever support I can”.
He said the infant boy was the only child to his parents.
