Defeated St Joseph by-election candidate Ian Alleyne escaped serious injury on Wednesday night after he was involved in a car crash in Port-of-Spain in which his SUV turned over on its side.There were several conflicting reports over the accident yesterday, however, with police sources, Alleyne's public relations official and Alleyne himself all giving varying accounts of the events.
What was consistant in all three versions was that Alleyne was not over T&T's legal alcohol limit of 35 microgrammes of alcohol for every 100 millilitres of breath.When contacted yesterday, Alleyne denied consuming alcohol before the accident and said he was returning from a meeting at the time."I did not have any alcohol in my system. The result of the test was zero," Alleyne claimed.Alleyne also took issue with several media reports yesterday which stated he was intoxicated at the time of the accident.
"They are trying anything to tarnish my name. I don't know what I do them," Alleyne said. He told the T&T Guardian he would usually have a driver but decided to drive himself around on Wednesday night."It is rare when I drive myself but sometimes I need my privacy," Alleyne said.When questioned if he was at fault in the accident, Alleyne said no."I didn't break no major road. I know the area very well, I pass there every other night," Alleyne said.
He also commended the officers who responded to the scene and said they were very courteous and helpful.According to police reports, around 11.40 pm Alleyne was driving his Toyota Frontunner SUV south along Stone Street when he collided with a Volkswagen Golf driven by Este Calder, who was driving west along Duke Street.The front of Alleyne's vehicle was damaged and it turned over onto the driver's side while almost the entire front of Calder's car was damaged.
Alleyne and Calder escaped unscathed while Calder's front seat passenger, who was identified as Cory Bonnett, suffered minor injuries.Police sources yesterday confirmed that field sobriety breathalyser tests were administered to Alleyne and Calder, who were both found to be under the legal alcohol limit. They were then questioned by police and allowed to leave the scene with their wrecked vehicles.
A source close to the investigation said Alleyne and his lawyers visited the Central Police Station, St Vincent Street, Port-of-Spain, yesterday to speak with investigators but said Alleyne did not give a statement. A press release sent yesterday morning by Complete Image Limited, who handled some of Alleyne's public relations during his election campaign, contained information on the circumstances of the accident which were contrary to police reports.
"Mr Alleyne was driving his motor vehicle when it was suddenly hit from behind, resulting in his motor vehicle flipping," Prior Beharry, the company's media consultant, said in the release.In the release, Beharry "categorically" denied internet rumours being circulated yesterday which claimed there were two Government officials in Alleyne's vehicle at the time of the crash. This fact was confirmed by both the police and Alleyne. PC Hosten is continuing investigations.