AN auto mechanic who took a million dollar Nissan GTR supercar out for a spin in Palo Seco on Sunday, crashed and destroyed the vehicle.
The owner of the coveted car, was sitting in an aircraft on the tarmac at the Piarco international airport, having just returned to Trinidad, when he powered on his phone, and learnt of the crash on social media.
What remains of the vehicle, is lodged at the Santa Flora Police Station. Police said that up to late yesterday, the crash had not been reported by the driver, and officers intended to go in search of him. Car lovers nationwide have reacted to the crash with anguish. The car was well known on the local circuit, and the same model was driven by deceased actor Paul Walker in the Fast and Furious series of movies.
The owner of the vehicle is business Imitiaz Edoo, owner of Edoo’s Welding and Industrial Supplies Company Limited.
Edoo said he purchased the car for his son in December 2010 at cost of one million dollars.
“I am saddened about it. We are confuffled and disappointed about it because the vehicle did not go there for that purpose. It just went there to do something and come back. The car went out on Monday or Tuesday last week. It was expected to be returned as soon as possible. For the latest Friday”, Edoo told the Express. “He (the mechanic) was looking after the vehicle for the last five years. He was servicing it, the brakes and he kept the vehicle. And he was supposed to return it long time. We were out of the country for a few days. He went on a joyride apparently and that was the end of that.”
Police said they are searching for the driver who up until Monday morning had not made a reported the crash at any police station.
Two passengers who were with the driver at the time of the crash have told police they did not know his identity.
Officers were called to the scene by residents who witnessed the vehicle, PCS 88, speeding through Los Bajos Main Road before it crashed at around 2 p.m.
Witnesses told police that shortly before Madhosingh’s Funeral Home the vehicle lost control and became airborne.
It rocketed some three metres (ten feet), since the branches of a mango tree at that height were sliced by the sports car.
The million dollar car landed in a ditch.
The passengers were identified by police as Ricardo Millette, and Ronald Jeffrey, both of Santa Flora.
Millette and Jeffrey were taken to the Siparia District Health Facility by Emergency Health Services ambulance where they were treated for minor cuts and bruises. They were discharged from hospital.
Edoo said his son received the news of the crash when they landed at the airport on Sunday.
“We were in the plane and my son turned on his phone and he started receiving messages. Apparently, it (the crash) went viral throughout the country. Everybody started messaging my son”, said the businessman.
He said that the mechanic still had not contacted him. “We are just waiting. We are trying to recover whatever. To recover that kind of damage from an ordinary person is not easy. We will try to see what we can do. We haven’t decided what we are doing, we have yet to speak to the individual personally“, said Edoo.
