Trinidad: Prison transport van crashes at traffic light, 11 injured

(Trinidad Express) A woman and her two children were injured when their car was hit by a prison van and a police vehicle at the O’meara traffic lights on the Churchill Roosevelt Highway on Monday.

Five prisoners, two police officers, and the prison van driver were also hurt.

The crash involved a marked police vehicle, an Amalgamated Transport vehicle, and a car driven by a Maquina Hernandez who was with her daughters, aged 14 and three-months-old.

 
At about 8.20a.m. on Monday, the police vehicle, driven by PC Mohammed and carrying Corporal Neckchadee of the Southern Division Court and Process Branch – was heading east along the highway ahead of the Amalgamated security driven by Estate Constable Sookhoo.

The prison van was carrying five prisoners, Joandie Ovid, Wayne Johnson, Kevon Jairam, Darius Smyke and Terrance Roberts.

In the vicinity of the O’meara intersection, the police vehicle came to a stop along the east bound lane.

The prison van entered the intersection along the shoulder of the east-bound lane and hit the woman’s red Nissan Primera which was proceeding north across the intersection.

Hernandez later told police that she had a green light at the time..

The impact caused Primera to spin and collide with the police vehicle.

The five prisoners had no chance to escape, police say.

PC Mohammed was conveyed to the Arima District Hospital for treatment, along with Estate Constable Sookhoo, and the five prisoners.

Hernandez complained of minor pains below of her foot and was attended to by Emergency Health Services personnel at the scene. The woman, along with her children, were taken for medical examination.

Cpl Cassie is investigating.