By Susan Mohammed

Copyright trinidadexpress

Tragedy has struck again on the nation’s roads, as three people have died in separate accidents.

A young motorist driving home from work was killed in a traffic accident near Corinth in South Trinidad on Saturday night.

A cyclist and coach died in Couva in a motorcycle crash on Saturday and, in the third fatal incident, an elderly man holding his grandson was run over by a vehicle in Talparo.

Twenty-year-old Isaiah Teelucksingh, of Mon Desir Road in Fyzabad, is the latest road fatality.

Police said around 9 p.m., Teelucksingh was driving his Nissan Cefiro south on the Solomon Hochoy Highway when, upon nearing the Corinth overpass, he lost control of the car.

Teelucksingh’s vehicle spun out of control and crashed into a wrecker that was attending to an earlier incident on the highway.

Police said the Isuzu flatbed wrecker was on the shoulder of the southbound lane of the highway, with a silver Nissan Tiida on its tray, when the Cefiro slammed into it.

The driver of the wrecker-Krishna Balliram, 38, of Gasparillo, and the driver of the car, Ravi Cazebo of Woodland, were entering the wrecker when it was struck by Teelucksingh’s car.

Teelucksingh was trapped in his vehicle and died at the scene.

Balliram and Cazebo sustained injuries and were taken to the San Fernando General Hospital (SFGH).

Police officers from the Ste Madeleine Police Station and Highway Patrol Units responded.

Officers of the Mon Repos Fire Station, led by FSO Jackson, FSO Woods, and Assistant Sub-fire Officer Noel, used the jaws of life hydraulic tool to remove Teelucksingh from the vehicle.

Cpl Roopnarine is continuing investigations.

When the Express visited his home yesterday, a relative, who did not give her name, said the family was too distraught over the loss to be interviewed.

She said Teelucksingh was returning home from work when the fatal crash occurred.

Contacted by the Express on WhatsApp yesterday, Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation Eli Zakour said he will be issuing a statement tomorrow.

Police road safety co-ordinator Brent Batson could not be immediately reached for comment yesterday.

Between August 8-10, five people were killed in separate vehicle crashes across the country.

More than 70 people have been killed in road accidents for the year so far.

Cycling coach dies

In the other accident, cyclist and coach Rakesh Ragoonanan was killed in a road collision on Saturday.

Ragoonanan, also known as “Ronnie”, 50, of Local Road, McBean in Couva, was riding his motorcycle when it collided with a car in Couva.

A police report said around 3 p.m., a Nissan Cube driven by a Claxton Bay man was heading south along the Southern Main Road in McBean when, near the entrance to Orangefield, Ragoonanan’s motorcycle, which was headed in the opposite direction, collided with the vehicle.

Police stated that the driver of the Nissan Cube told officers Ragoonanan’s motorcycle overtook another vehicle and collided with the front right side of his car.

Ragoonanan was taken by ambulance to the Couva District Health Facility.

He was pronounced dead about an hour after the crash.

Officers of the Freeport Police are continuing investigations.

Condolences poured in on social media for Ragoonanan.

A post on the social media page of the Central Spokes Cycle Club read, “It is with deep sadness that I share some heartbreaking news: Ronnie Ragoonanan has passed away. He was not only a member of our cycling family but also a friend who shared the trails, road, the challenges, and the joy of riding with us. Let us keep their family and loved ones in our thoughts during this difficult time. We will share details about any arrangements or ways we can support as soon as we have them.”

A post on Facebook by Dave Surajdeen read, “The world lost some of its light today with the passing of my friend Ronnie, a truly decent man and an avid cyclist. His legacy rolls on through Central Spokes, thanks to Larry and Kevin. Rest easy, Ronnie.”