While trying to save his belongings from a neighbouring fire, Pleasantville resident Rene Ramdin was horror-struck with the news that his father was one of two men killed in a car crash Thursday night. Rene said his father, Clive Ramdin, had turned 65 only last week Friday and the family celebrated together and made plans for the future. Police said shortly after 10 pm, Ramdin and another man, unidentified up to late yesterday, were travelling south on the Solomon Hochoy Highway in a silver Toyota Royal Saloon driven by 55-year-old Cleve Babb. On reaching the Claxton Bay overpass, Babb struck a railing and reportedly lost control of the vehicle causing it to overturn before smashing into a light pole. Fire officers rushed to the scene and had to use the "jaws of life" to cut both Ramdin and Babb out of the vehicle. Police said that Babb, of Esperanza Village, San Fernando died on the spot while Ramdin and the other occupant of the vehicle were rushed to the San Fernando General Hospital. Ramdin was pronounced dead on arrival while the other man was reported to be warded in stable condition.
Yesterday, at Ramdin's home at Victoria Village, San Fernando, his sons Rene 32 and Ricky 36 worked on a vehicle that their father had recently had painted. Rene said his father was a retired straightener and painter who would still assist them in the garage, located at the back of the house. He said his father and Cleve were good friends and was returning from a trip to a relative's home in Couva. Rene said on Thursday night, he got a call from his elder brother, Richard, stating that his father had just died in a vehicular accident. "I was shocked and disappointed when I got that news because we had planned to rebuild the garage. I was at my home in Pleasantville where I was removing appliances from my home after a fire next door threatened to spread to my home," he said. Rene said he rented an apartment next to the house which was destroyed by fire and claimed the life of retired fire officer Steve Porter on Thursday night. Rene described his father as a very helpful and loving person, especially to their mother Ida Ramdin.