The Tribune

By TANYA SMITH-CARTWRIGHT

tsmith-cartwright@tribunemedia.net

A MAN is dead after a traffic accident in New Providence yesterday.

Police said speed played a factor in the incident in which two other people were injured and taken to hospital to be treated.

The accident involved a RAV 4 Crossover SUV and a Mack truck yesterday.

“Shortly after 11am, police received reports of a traffic collision that occurred on Charles W Saunders Highway,” ASP Audley Peters said. “Officers responded and on their arrival on the scene they found a green RAV 4 had collided into a white Mack truck.

“An inspection of the RAV 4 revealed three occupants which included two males and a female. The two males were in the front seat. One of the males in the front seat was found to be unresponsive and all the persons in the vehicle received injuries.”

Emergency Medical Services were on the scene where one of the passengers of the RAV 4 was declared dead.

“EMS was called and on their arrival they rendered assistance to all passengers,” said ASP Peters.

“However, the male passenger in the front seat succumbed to his injuries. The female and male were transferred to the hospital via ambulance.

“The preliminary investigation revealed the RAV 4 was travelling east along Charles W Saunders (Highway) when it collided into the Mack truck which was stationary at the time. That is as much of the information that we can give on this incident at the moment.”

“It was the passenger that perished and there is no evidence to suggest that alcohol was involved in this incident. It appears that speed was a factor based on the evidence on the scene.”

ASP Peters was not able to say whether the occupants of the RAV 4 were wearing seatbelts, but he said the investigation will reveal that information.

There were no other cars involved in the incident and witnesses are assisting police.

Police said the surviving male and female who were transported to the hospital appear to be in their late 20s to early 30s. They do not have any information on the person who died in the accident.

In terms of the truck’s positioning partially in the road, ASP Peters said the investigation will “take that to a specific place” and at that time a judgement will be made.

ASP Mario Sweeting, officer-in-charge of the Traffic Division, was also on the scene. He pleaded for motorists to obey the traffic rules.

“As you can see this accident took a turn for the worse,” he said. “Preliminary inquiries suggested that speed was a factor and we continue to plead with the members of the public to drive with courtesy, with patience and to obey the traffic speed regulations.

“As it stands now, we are at the initial stage of this investigation and in due time an outcome will be available. The speed limit on this highway is 30 miles per hour. As the days go by we are seeing an increase in speeding so we encourage persons to drive within the speed limit.”

So far this year there have been 16 traffic fatalities, ASP Sweeting said. Four of those fatalities were in New Providence.