SUSAN BOODRAM Tuesday, July 29 2003

FYZABAD MP Chandresh Sharma says he has no ill feelings toward the teenaged driver of the drag-racing car which struck two of his sons, who were spectators at the illegal drag-racing event on Saturday night.

As a matter of fact, Sharma believes a location to legally accommodate drag racing in South/Central Trinidad should be established as a precautionary measure to avoid future accidents and mishaps. The major drag racing venue in the country is at Wallerfield, in north-east Trinidad. Speaking to Newsday yesterday, Sharma said: “A lot of people, especially young men, are involved in drag racing. It is a global sport and government and the private sector should find a way to accommodate those involved.” The Fyzabad MP said he had not been contacted by the 19-year-old driver who lost control of his car and hit his two sons: Moonish, 13, and Devaan, 10. He said, “I am a parent with children and he (the driver) is a child. And while I am hurting for my children, I also feel hurt for him. I hope he can recover from this (accident).”

Little Devaan spent two nights at Ward 5 of the San Fernando General Hospital (SFGH) and was discharged yesterday. He suffered abrasions and cuts to his face. As soon as he was wheeled out of the ward, MP Sharma said, Devaan walked to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) to see his friend, Arun Ramdeen, 14. Ramdeen suffered massive head injuries and has been in a coma since the crash. Moonish was treated and discharged the night of the accident, but doctors have advised him to wear a neck brace for three weeks. Another teenaged victim of the crash, Kirt Warner, of Gasparillo, is expected to have surgery on his leg today. Sharma said he had received numerous telephone calls from both United National Congress and People’s National Movement officials who expressed their concern over the children. Investigators took an initial statement from the driver but require an extensive report from the teen, who was expected to return to the scene yesterday with police.. The driver was detained for several hours at the San Fernando Traffic Branch after the accident, but was later allowed to return to his San Fernando home. Police will also get a report on the offender’s car — a silver Honda Civic PBD 16 — after it faces inspection at the San Fernando Licensing Office.