A 13-month old baby, his mother and grandmother were killed instantly in a collision along the M2 Ring Road in Debe yesterday.
Baby Rahul Sirjudeen, his mother Woman Police Constable (WPC) Rashma, 26, and his grandmother Una Samkarran, 55, all died on the spot when Rashma lost control of her Kia Cerato car along the M2 Ring Road and ran head first into a three-tonne truck.
It was raining in the area minutes before the accident occurred around noon and the roadway was said to be wet. The accident forced the closure of the busy link road which connects Golconda to Barrackpore.
All three victims resided at Kent Street, Williamsville.
According to reports, Rashma, who was attached to the Ste Madeleine Police Station, was heading south along the road towards Barrackpore when she lost control of her car around a corner and skidded into the truck. Her car ended up on the right side of the road.
Residents of the nearby Picton Street Extension rushed to the family’s aid, but it was only when the officers from the Mon Repos Police Station responded that the bodies could be removed as the “jaws of life” had to be used to free them from the mangled wreck.
Rahul’s tiny body was still strapped into his blue car seat after the impact and he had to be removed by undertakers at the scene still in the car seat.
The driver of the truck, identified as David Aasraph-Ali, 22, of Siparia, was taken to the San Fernando General Hospital for treatment. It was not clear last evening if he had sustained any injuries.
The T&T Guardian spoke to Rashma’s husband, Rakesh Sirjudeen, at the San Fernando Mortuary yesterday evening.
Rakesh, 36, said he last saw his son on Thursday at KFC in Debe.
“He was happy like normal,” said Rakesh. “He was just starting to hold on and walk.”
He seemed unable to say more.
Rashma’s great-grandmother Eleanora Dass also seemed at a loss for words. She would only say it was the first time her family had experienced anything like this.
Several top officers of the Southern Division visited the scene, including ACP Donald Denoon, Supts Hodge, Griffith and Zamsheed Mohammed, Ins Don Gajadhar, Cpl Richardson and others.
Speaking to members of the media at the scene, Denoon said Rashma would be given a military funeral. He said her death had left a void and impacted heavily on her colleagues.
“She was a young officer with over three years service. Her sudden death has left a void and impacted on her co-workers,” Denoon said.
“I have instructed the community police to assist the family.”
Denoon said he also gave instructions for social workers to give counselling to Rashma’s colleagues. He is also urging motorists to be careful on the roads.
“It is the rainy season and we understand just before this happened the rain was falling so the road was wet,” he said.
“We are appealing to drivers to be careful on the roads, drive carefully please.”
Some 73 people have been killed in road accidents so far this year.