By: Precious Mills
BASSETERRE, St. Kitts (Friday 19th October 2018)-The aftermath of one of the latest traffic accidents which happened over the past weekend along the Frigate Bay Road has left many people shocked and puzzled as to how exactly did that crash occur and are equally saying the driver is lucky to be alive.
This reporter spoke exclusively with an officer at the Traffic Department this week who gave details about that collision and has cautioned motorists to be practice general road safety at all times in the interest of themselves and other users alike.
Reportedly, the accident took place on Saturday 13th October at about 5:20 AM involving PA 3858 driven by Mohan Kotwani, a student at the Windsor University School of Medicine.
As gathered, the circumstances are that Kotwani was travelling from Basseterre to Frigate Bay and at the junction leading into Earl Morne, he was objected by an unknown vehicle coming out of the said junction at the Earl Morne area which turned right along the Frigate Bay Road towards Basseterre.
“…and so a result driver Kotwani mashed breaks and lost control colliding into a guard rail on the right side of the road and so as a result he was trapped and was extricated (freed) by the Fire and Rescue Services and later transported to the Joseph N. France General by EMS [Emergency Medical Services] personnel and kept at the hospital,” the Traffic Department officer said.
Kotwani was the only occupant of the vehicle.
In observing the importance of practicing road safety, the contact person at the Traffic Department informed this reporter about the situation which apparently led to the crash.
“The circumstances are that the person exiting the junction might have failed to give way and so actions like these result in unwarranted collisions.”
He added: “Drivers have to be mindful at all times of other users when they are on the road factors like oncoming traffic, time of day and conditions of the road.”
He pointed out that the Frigate Bay Road tends to be busy.
“Traffic might not be heavy at times but you have to be alert for the unexpected because such circumstances can result in accidents,” he warned.
Additionally, a reminder was given that the speed limit along the Frigate Bay Road and built up areas is 20MPH while in non-built up areas, which describes non- residential communities, the speed limit is 40MPH.
The officer said there are some areas along the Frigate Bay Road which allows motorists to travel at 30MPH.
Photo: The aftermath of an accident along the Frigate Bay Road last weekend involving a driver who was trapped
Another angle of the accident with a fire truck at the scene