Nine people were taken to the Scarborough General Hospital yesterday morning after a maxi taxi overturned in Charlotteville.
A report said round 7.20 am the Nissan Urvan maxi taxi, driven by David Alexander 33, of Sergeant Cain, Scarborough, was heading west along Doctor Hill Road when the brakes malfunctioned, causing Alexander to lose control of the maxi which went up an embankment, overturned and slid approximately 15 metres across the roadway. It stopped precariously over a precipice.
Divisional Fire Officer David Thomas said the “jaws of life” had to be used to free Alexander from the wreckage.
“The driver was pinned in the vehicle as it lay precariously on the edge of the precipice, so much so that it did not allow for immediate access to the driver, efforts were then made to stabilise the vehicle as the service of a dump truck had to be immobilised.
With the help of passersby the maxi taxi was lifted and placed on its wheels,” Thomas said.
He added that Alexander suffered serious injuries to his arm, chest and his lower body. He was transported to the Scarborough General Hospital, via an EHS ambulance. At the time Alexander was in a semi-conscious condition. He also underwent emergency surgery.
Two cars and pick-up truck also assisted to transport the other eight injured passengers to hospital. They were treated and discharged with minor injuries.
One of the injured passengers, Kesia Lovelace, 26, Glamorgan, Tobago, suffered minor injuries to her right arm and head.
Lovelace said she was seated directly behind Alexander when the accident happened.
“We were leaving Charlotteville and heading into Scarborough and I don’t know what happened.
“The driver was not speeding or anything. I just noticed we were heading towards the bank and it was like the driver had no control.
“For a split second, I had no idea what was happening but I just know we had to climb out through a window because the bus felt like it was going over the cliff.” Lovelace said.
In an interview, director of the Tobago Emergency Management Agency (TEMA) Allan Stewart said a major disaster was averted due to quick response of all stakeholders.
He commended the efforts of the first responders.