Hit and run taxi driver to be charged today

BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – THE driver of the taxi bus who fled the scene after colliding with a ProTech construction worker on the West Basseterre Bypass Road yesterday (Jan. 6), is expected to be charged sometime today.

According to Head of the Traffic Department, Inspector Cromwell Henry, Trevon Rogers of Sandy Point and driver of taxi bus TA163 is still in police custody and would probably be charged with dangerous driving before the end of the day.

Reports reaching this media house state that while ProTech employee Arismendy Santiago of Cardin Avenue was placing traffic cones in the centre of a stretch on the Bypass Road immediately following the Camps roundabout, he was struck down by the taxi bus.

Eyewitnesses claimed that Rogers entered the Bypass Road from the Camps roundabout and was speeding along the road. And when Santiago saw the bus approaching his direction he began running towards the right side of the road, ostensibly to avoid a collision.

Nonetheless, the vehicle smashed into him head-on and propelled his body forward into the stone wall bordering the road. He then fell into the drain, where he remained until an Emergency Medical Service Unit transported him to the JNF Hospital.

An unhurt Rogers fled the scene, and this media house observed his taxi parked on College Street Ghaut an hour after the accident occurred. Aside from a slightly shattered windshield, the bus did not appear to have sustained any other damage.

However, speaking with SKNVibes this morning, Inspector Henry informed that the 28-year-old Santiago was “seriously injured” as a result of the accident and suffered injuries to his head, shoulder and leg.

He further informed that Santiago is in “serious but stable” condition and the offence, committed by Rogers, carries an EC$ 4 000 fine or six months in jail.