Beloved auto mechanic and secondary school teacher Nigel Mendes lost his life in a car accident on M2 Ring Road in Debe.
The accident occurred just meters away from where another fatal crash had happened two months ago.
In February, immigration officer Selwyn Khan died at the same spot when his Mitsubishi Canter van was hit head-on by a trailer.
Mendes, who was employed at Siparia West Secondary School, died at the scene of the accident. He was on his way to pick up his son from school when the incident happened.
His vehicle, a Nissan-14, was found by patrolling police officers overturned and partially submerged in a drain on the northern side of the roadway.
Mendes was the only occupant, and he was found under the vehicle. Unfortunately, he had no vital signs.
Mendes was a brilliant and passionate auto mechanic who loved his job. He had previously worked at the Fyzabad Composite Secondary School and was a father of two.
His family said that he lived for cars and that all the jacked-up vehicles, parts, tires, and tools in their garage were his work.
One of Mendes’ sisters spoke to the Express and said that her daughter and Mendes shared the same birthday on October 17. She wept as she described her brother’s love for cars and said that he was an excellent mechanic.
The sister also talked about the roadside memorial erected for Selwyn Khan and suggested that the authorities should take action to prevent further accidents.
The La Romaine Police post spotted the wreckage at around 3.20 p.m. Officers Dass and Ramkhalawan checked and found Mendes under the vehicle. The EHS paramedics responded, but he had no vital signs.
The body was examined by a district medical officer and taken to the San Fernando mortuary. The vehicle was wrecked and lodged at the San Fernando police station.
The police are unsure about the exact time of the incident and are requesting anyone who witnessed it to come forward.
Aiva Arthur
