Two die in Ratho Mill crash

The stretch of road outside George Browne’s residence in Ratho Mill is quickly becoming one of folk legend, as yet another serious vehicular mishap has happened there.

Last Friday, November 27, at around 10.45 a.m., two persons lost their lives and two more were seriously injured during a collision{{more}} between a Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV) and a minivan.

The crash claimed the lives of Park Hill residents Oswald DeFreitas, who is said to be in his 40s and his neighbour Jillian Nanton, said to be in her 50s. DeFreitas’ wife was also in the vehicle at the time of the crash and was hospitalized, along with the driver of the minivan Joel Veira.

A police report said that the accident involved three motor vehicles, PR413, a silver Nissan car owned and driven by Freddie Baynes of Park Hill; H1131, a red Toyota omnibus owned by Lenford Veira of Richmond Hill and driven by Joel Veira of the same address and P7135, a blue Daihatsu jeep, owned and driven by DeFreitas.

Police say that the omnibus was travelling towards the Windward side of the country and motor vehicles PR 413 and P7135 were heading towards Calliaqua when the accident took place.

The driver and passengers of minivan, H1131 sustained injuries and were taken to the Milton Cato Memorial Hospital (MCMH), while motor vehicle PR 413 was slightly damaged. Reports are that the minivan operator broke his right leg and his left arm.

There have been 14 road accidents this year, which resulted in the deaths of 23 persons.

Police are investigating the latest incident.