The road fatality figure climbed to 106 yesterday, after a car ran off the northbound carriageway of the Solomon Hochoy Highway and slammed into an electricity pole, killing the driver. Leslie Mc Gregor, 55, of St Mary's Village, South Oropouche, died on the spot after being flung about 15 feet from his car. His body was discovered by police officers around 10.45 am.
Investigations revealed that Mc Gregor was driving north along the highway when upon reaching the vicinity of the Macaulay Flyover, he lost control of his white four-door sedan. The car swerved to the left, slammed into the pole and twisted around it. Oncoming motorists later alerted police officers and a team led by Insp Samaroo visited the scene.
District Medical Officer Dr Assing viewed the body and ordered it removed to the San Fernando mortuary. Police officers said they were yet to find witnesses. However, based on skid marks, they were able to tell the direction Mc Gregor was heading. Police said it was also possible that Mc Gregor's car skidded on the wet surface of the road. Last week coordinator of the Police Service Road Safety project Brent Batson appealed to motorists to be careful on the roads.
He said more people will die if motorists did not adhere to the speed limit. He revealed that high tech speed guns which monitors distance using beams, will be introduced as part of the Government's crime fighting arsenal. He added that there has been a nine per cent increase in road deaths this year, compared with statistics from 2011, so it was imperative that the Government work to combat road carnage.