BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – THE quick response of civic-minded individuals prevented an already serious situation from turning deadly today (Feb. 24) when they assisted in removing an injured man from a smoking vehicle that later burst into flames.
Sometime before 4:45 this afternoon, SKNVibes received reports that a “serious” accident had taken place at College Street Ghaut, just north of the bus stop.
Investigations revealed that the incident involved one vehicle – a maroon 4X4 Nissan Frontier – said to be driven by an individual identified only as “Ben” by persons on the scene.
According to unconfirmed reports, the vehicle was traveling north along College Street Ghaut when it collided with a wall on the eastern side of the road, spun out control and was deposited in the centre of the road.
The sounds generated by the crash sparked the interest of many onlookers, which was heightened after thick black smoke began to roll from the engine compartment of the vehicle.
An eye-witness account of the incident suggests that following the crash, the driver, who was slumped over the driver’s side door in a seemingly unconscious state, was removed from the vehicle by a number of men who recognized the looming danger. The lone passenger in the vehicle, who is believed to be Aannad Shammi, was able to exit the vehicle without assistance.
Roughly 10 minutes after the driver was pulled from the vehicle, the thick smoke turned to flames that quickly engulfed the engine.
SKNVibes understands that the driver was rushed to the Joseph N. France General Hospital for treatment, but details about his condition were not immediately forthcoming.
A unit dispatched by the St. Kitts-Nevis Fire and Rescue Services arrived on scene shortly after and was successful in quelling the blaze that had swallowed the front portion of the vehicle.
A member of that team told SKNVibes that the cause of the fire is yet unknown, but indicated that the vehicle’s engine compartment and cabin where the driver had previously been sitting were totally destroyed.
The Head of the Traffic Department, Inspector Cromwell Henry, was at the scene. When asked for details about the crash, he informed that his department was carrying out investigations and would provide more information at the earliest possible date.
