By STACY MOORE Wednesday, July 28 2010

INVESTIGATIONS are continuing into an accident on Sunday which claimed the life of a 66-year-old pensioner. According to a police report, Stella Luchin of Montrose, Chaguanas was pronounced dead-on-arrival at Couva Health Centre shortly after the accident.

Police said that at about 1 pm, a white station wagon driven by a 35-year-old man was proceeding north along the Solomon Hochoy Highway near the Ato Bolton Stadium.

Police said the car’s front right wheel came off, causing the car to overturn several times, cross the median and crash into a Suzuki vehicle driven by Primchand Basdeo of Longdenville.

Basdeo’s vehicle subsequently crashed into a Nissan X-Trail SUV driven by Trevor Luchin. Stella who was the front passenger in the SUV, was trapped inside the wreck and firemen had to use a hydraulic cutting device commonly referred to as “the jaws of life” to cut through the twisted steel and free her. She was rushed to the health centre.

The other victims were taken to the San Fernando General Hospital where they were treated.