BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – A collision of two heavy-duty vehicles caused unexpected congestion of traffic this morning (July 15) in the Canada Industrial Estate area, but the driver and passengers of the vehicles were able to escape the wreckage with their lives.
Around 10:10 this morning, SKNVibes responded to an emergency call informing that a collision had endangered the lives of three Construction Technologies (CONTEC) workers.
According to one eyewitness report, a yellow CONTEC cement truck (PA5767) was travelling westbound to Basseterre, when a white dump truck (PA6968) belonging to D’s Trucking and Backhoe Services came speeding behind.
The witness went on to say that the driver of PA6968 attempted to apply his brakes, but was forced to swerve off of the road to the left of the cement truck after realizing that his vehicle was not slowing down. The dump truck, carrying a load of sand, subsequently crashed into the side of the CONTEC vehicle and the force of the collision overturned the cab of PA5767.
“The white truck [PA6968] rush over the road and [its driver] tried to pull brakes but maybe it wasn’t working. So, what happened was it tried to pull off the road but it didn’t really slow down still. It hit the yellow cement truck and knocked over the cab. The three [CONTEC] workers were still in there. They got some serious cuts,” the individual informed.
The collision caused extensive damage to the windscreen, roof and sides of the cab, the area of the yellow truck where the driver and passengers were.
While there were no reported major injuries or fatalities, two passengers of the CONTEC vehicle reportedly suffered scrapes and lacerations to the hands, face and chest, and complained of chest pains after the incident. They were subsequently taken to the Joseph N. France General Hospital for treatment.
SKNVibes contacted the driver and owner of D’s Trucking and Backhoe, who refused to give a comment regarding the accident. Police personnel on the scene of the incident stated that further investigations into the cause of the accident would be undertaken.
An Emergency Medical Services unit rushed to the scene of the accident approximately 20 minutes after the collision, but the injured individuals had already been taken to the hospital by way of an employee’s vehicle.
