Acting CJ in critical condition

Acting Chief Justice Wendell Kangaloo is in critical condition with head trauma and internal bleeding after an early morning car crash in Trincity which claimed the lives of four partygoers. Up to late yesterday, Kangaloo, 56, of Westmoorings, remained in the Intensive Care Unit of the Eric Williams Medical Sciences Complex, Mt Hope, drifting in and out of consciousness.

Jones P Madeira, court protocol and information manager, said the acting CJ underwent emergency surgery yesterday morning and was transferred to the Intensive Care Unit where 24-hour monitoring facilities had been set up. Doctors were up to late yesterday continuing crucial post operative care in their efforts to stabilise him.

At around 5.30 am, Kangaloo was travelling east along the Churchill-Roosevelt Highway when his black Toyota Prado SUV collided with a white Honda Civic at the Orange Grove intersection. The occupants of the other vehicle—Roy Ramthahal, 25, of Industry Lane, Belmont; Jevon Spencer, 22, an employee of the Port-of-Spain City Corporation, of Willis Street, Belmont; Jeremie John, 24, of St James, and an unidentified female friend—all died at the scene.

They were returning home from the opening of Club Status (formerly the Living Room Nightclub) in Arima, at the time of the accident. Kangaloo, a horse racing enthusiast, was on his way to the Arima Race Club at Santa Rosa. Travelling with the judge were two policemen, PCs Martin Caesar and Terrence Fortune, who had been assigned as Kangaloo’s security detail during his stint as acting Chief Justice. They suffered minor injuries in the crash.

Caesar, who is assigned to the Guard and Emergency Branch, was driving Kangaloo’s vehicle, while Fortune, a Special Branch officer, was the front seat passenger. The wreckages of both vehicles were towed to the Arouca Police Station where they will remain impounded until the police complete their investigation of the fatal crash.

Kangaloo was visited at hospital yesterday by acting Prime Minister Jack Warner, relatives and fellow judges. Chief Justice Ivor Archie was expected to return to T&T late yesterday evening after an overseas trip, a release from the Court Protocol and Information Office said. Assistant Commissioner of Police Terry Young and Inspector David of the Northern Division are investigating the accident.