Following is a statement by the Public Relations and Complaints Department of the Royal St. Vincent and the Grenadines Police Force, issued to the media today, Friday, Dec. 12, 2014:
On Saturday December 06, 2014, the New Democratic Party was holding a political meeting at Clare Valley. About 10:50pm on the said date, motor vehicle P-119, which was at the time carrying registration number P-7516, driven by Antwone Quincy Anthony of Questelles, travelled from top Questelles towards Clare Valley. On passing Merline Hill, the vehicle’s engine closed off but the vehicle continued travelling downhill for over 500ft. Anthony reportedly lost control of the vehicle and it collided with a car which was parked in the vicinity of the public meeting. As a result of the collision, several persons, including Mr. Edgar Cruickshank, 78yrs, of Questelles, were injured. Mr. Cruickshank later succumbed to his injuries at the Milton Cato Memorial Hospital. At the time of the collision, Anthony’s 4-year-old son, was a passenger in motor vehicle P-119.
A series of inspections were conducted on motor vehicle P-119 by a Gazetted Motor Vehicle Inspector, which revealed the following:-
- The vehicle was registered as P-119 and not P-7516
- The fan belt which runs the alternator was off and burst
- The starter relay and starter fuse were tampered with
Anthony was taken into custody the said night of the accident. He was subsequently arrested and charged with the following offences:-
- Fraudulent use of a vehicle’s identification mark
ii, Failing to renew driving permit on his birthday
iii. Using an unlicensed motor vehicle
- Using an uninsured motor vehicle
- causing the death of Edgar Cruickshank by dangerous driving
He appeared at the Serious Offences Court on 12.12.2014, but was not required to plea to the charges which will be heard Indictably.
Anthony was granted bail in the sum of $40,000.00 with one surety, and was ordered to surrender all travel documents to the Court and cannot leave the State without the permission of the Court. A “Stop Notice” to restrict his movements was also issued to all Ports of Entry and Exit and he is to report to the Questelles Police Station every Monday and Thursday between 6:00am and 6:00pm.
February 05, 2015 has been set as the date for the next hearing of the charges brought against Anthony.
“On passing Merline Hill, the vehicles engine closed off but the vehicle continued travelling downhill for over 500ft. Anthony reportedly lost control of the vehicle and it collided with a car which was parked in the vicinity of the public meeting”. Was a policeman in the car? did a policeman observe the car prior to impact?
How on earth do the police know such things? how can they make such a statement? Only a court and an inquest can come to such conclusions.
How about the verbal evidence from people that the vehicle had passed the meeting several times, driving by, how about that?
How about the verbal evidence from people that the vehicle revved its engine before slamming into the crowd, how about that?
Have the police investigated the cell phone records of all the vehicles occupants?
Have the police had any instructions from politicians on how to handle this matter?
This is just not good enough, unless this matter is handled properly and the public can see that justice is seen to be done this matter will never go away.
There is already previously ingrained mistrust of the ULP politicians, in the police and in the judiciary, unless this matter is handled in a way that satisfies the citizenship it will cause lots of political problems at election time.
This whole matter stinks, perhaps unnecessarily. But its the perception that needs to be overcome. Idiot ULP politicians making unfounded statements before the police made their statement has made the matter worse.
I read somewhere the phrase “Stalin and Putin” regarding this matter. If this is a conspiracy its worse than that.
Vincentians have to real dumb to buy this crap and bull story. What happen to ELLS KING on dec 4th 2011 because he turn back too. This always happen around christmas time to throw us off. Every Vincentian should be on the street demonstrating day and night.This is the biggest coverup in Saint Vincent and the grenadines since GLEN JACKSON and ELLS KING. THERE WILL BE MORE TO COME. TAKE WARNING!!!!!.
Somebody is looking quite stupid right now…I am not saying the NDP and their acolytes are stupid but dumb-dumb got nothing on them at this moment.
The events of Saturday, December the 6th, 2014, are of national, not just partisan significance. I do not endorse the notion that what occurred is but another battle in the political war between the NDP and the ULP. What occurred on Saturday, December the 6th, is an affront to all the people and the nation of St. Vincent and the Grenadines. I say that St. Vincent and the Grenadines will not tolerate any attack on long-entrenched freedoms, be those freedoms constitutionally derived or of the sacred, God-given variety. Each of us is bestowed by God the liberty to choose. Mr. Edgar Cruickshank made what would be his final choice in the days before his death. He made that choice and the reason therefore are known to certain Vincentians of late. While in fact he has been silenced, his story shall be told, his message shall be delivered. We need a swift and thorough investigation into this matter, devoid of political interference. An investigation has started. I appeal to all our citizens, every one of you to remain calm. I know we all have our emotions but I urge you to remain calm while this investigation is being conducted and we will push for a very swift, but comprehensive investigation into this matter.
…..
I know that there are a lot of feeling out there, a lot of emotions running at this point in time, but our objective must be to get to the bottom of this issue. It has serious implications for the nation of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, very serious implications. So, my fellow citizens, I beseech you to remain calm.
NATIONAL SIGNIFICANCE? SERIOUS IMPLICATIONS? AFFRONT TO THE PEOPLE AND THE NATION? ATTACK ON FREEDOMS?…he has been silenced, his story shall be told, his message shall be delivered…WTF!!!!
SMH.
This report is more painful to the survivors than what they felt on that night, and even worse to anyone familiar with that area. First the writing, “motor vehicle P-119, which was at the time carrying registration number P-7516″, to me this should be ” a motor vehicle carrying registration number P-7516″. “was a passenger in motor vehicle P-119.”, the vehicle was not P119, it should just be “was a passenger in the motor vehicle”. ” A series of inspections were conducted on motor vehicle P-119 by a Gazetted Motor Vehicle Inspector”, again, P-119 should not be here. From ‘Merlene Hill’ to point of impact is between 1800-2000ft with about 1000+ft being almost level. “On passing Merline Hill,” could only mean closer to ‘Merlene Hill’ and the driver will have the 1000+ft almost level road before he meets a narrow 90 degree left turn where one vehicle have to stop to allow the other to pass. About 400+ft pass ‘Merlene Hill’ going to Clare Valley there is a low point and an uphill where acceleration may be necessary to keep a pace. “a Gazetted Motor Vehicle Inspector”, no name?. A broken belt to alternator causes the battery to not recharge, it will not cause a sudden shut down of a moving vehicle. If you only drive at day you may have a broken belt for a long time and never know, but at nights, with lights on, it drains the battery quicker. An automatic vehicle moving at night without alternator function to recharge battery will slow down and lights go dim, not off, even as you press on the accelerator, low power. 10 persons were hospitalized, one died, but he is only charged for the death, what of the other 9 victims?.
Three things I was looking for in the police report
After the inspection of the car
1- Was the foot brake functioning at the time of accident?
2- Is the Hand Brake functioning?
3- Is there a problem with the Steering Mechanism?
Antwone Quincy Anthony should also be charged with illegally selling pirated CDs. What a country!
The KEY to this investigation is to get the CELL PHONE records including all TEXT MESSAGES sent to and from cell phones of the driver and the young lady who was seen dressed in RED and constantly texting in close vicinity of the crime scene.
These records can be obtained via a court order from DIGICEL & LIME .
The truth lies here.
The car from the pictures is a 1992-1995 Honda Civic with most likely a 1.5 or 1.6 Liter engine, with engine code D15 or D16. These engines uses one (1) Timing Belt and Three (3) accessory belts (or Fan belts per the Police Release)
The accessory belts for this engine are:
a – Alternator belt
b – AC belt
c – Power Steering belt
See reference: http://www.parkhondaoemparts.com/parts/1996/Honda/Civic%20del%20Sol/Si?siteid=215333&vehicleid=94229§ion=COOLING%20SYSTEM&group=COOLING&subgroup=BELTS
SO, if only ONE belt failed as per the police report, and for logic assuming its not the AC Belt, would either have to be the Power Steering or Alternator belt. The car would only loose lights and horn OR the power steering, NOT BOTH.
The fact that the lights and horn were tested immediately after the accident and worked as per eye witness reports, we can assume it was not the Alternator belt that failed. By the process of elimination, could only logically be the Power Steering belt that failed. Which would have caused the car to revert to manual steering not no steering at all.
This would imply the lights and horn were DELIBERATELY NOT USED.
As an ex police I strongly recommend a thorough investigation in to this so call accident by some private investigator headed by Mr Wendell Wright and Alston Stoddard
What make me think that something is funny is the very early morning after the accident sir Julian on radio talking about the accident who give hm the rights to do so do he have any knowledge about policing ?