BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – AN accident which took place last evening (May 3) served as a reminder to motorists that caution must be exercised when operating their vehicles during rainy weather.
Information disseminated by Inspector Cromwell Henry, Manager of the Traffic Department, indicates that the incident occurred at about 5:40 p.m. and involved Ray John and the vehicle he was operating, P5877.
Henry explained that he was driving from Palmetto Point to Basseterre via Camps and having passed Ross University Veterinary School, he was faced with an overflowing ghaut.
That ghaut, like most others around the island, was overflowing owing to the heavy rainfall experienced during that afternoon into the evening.
This publication was told that he made an attempt to cross the Ghaut, and in the process his vehicle hydroplaned and he lost control of it. Having hydroplaned, the vehicle ran up the embankment on the mountainside of the road, flipped and rested on its top.
It is further understood that while on its top, the vehicle spun a number of times before coming to a halt.
Emergency crews were summoned to the scene to provide assistance and John was transported to the Joseph N. France General Hospital where he was treated for minor injuries and discharged.
Inspector Henry – through this media house – indicated that in order to increase road safety motorists must modify their speed in accordance with road, weather and traffic conditions.
“The speed limit is the maximum speed at which a vehicle is permitted to drive. It is not the speed at which you must drive. Drivers are still expected to adjust their speed according to road or traffic conditions, especially on wet roads where traction is significant reduced and your stopping distance is increased. It is advisable for motorists to drive well below the speed limit during adverse road and traffic conditions.”
