Grenada recorded its first road fatality last week Saturday, just three days into the New Year, after two vehicles collided along the Calivigny main road resulting in the death of Horndell Andall who resided in Corinth, St. David.
The 32 year old, who is affectionately known as ‘Santana’ and referred to in many quarters as “a bad boy” was identified as the driver of the blue Nissan Tida that collided with a Jeep Wrangler about 7:00 a.m.
Several individuals took to social media expressing condolences for the deceased Andall, who operated a popular bar in a building complex on St. John’s Street.
News of his death came as a shock to many who knew him and photos, which began circulating on social media moments after the crash which showed both vehicles severely damaged from the collision.
Andall was rushed to the St. George’s General Hospital but eventually succumbed to his injuries.
The deceased was no stranger to the police and is known to have had several matters pending before the Magistrate and High Courts in St. George including a shooting incident on the Greens in St Paul’s.
Persons who were closely associated with “Santana” described him as a businessman, who enjoyed loud music and fast driving.
In an exclusive interview with THE NEW TODAY on Wednesday, Officer in Charge of the Traffic Department, Superintendent of Police, Randy Connaught confirmed that the circumstances surrounding the cause of the accident is still under investigation and that an autopsy is scheduled to be conducted on the body to determine the cause of death.
“Further information will be forthcoming subsequently but I just want to confirm that there has been an accident at Calivingy in which Horndell would have lost his life. Now, this is a very active investigation. We are still conducting visits to the scene, all the nuts and bolts are not yet in place and we really don’t want to compromise the integrity of the investigation…but going forward the media would definitely be abreast with the development,” said Supt. Connaught.
It is widely speculated that the deceased was speeding at the time of the collision.
Traffic police are often seen doing speeding checks along the Calivigny public road, an area which, the department confirmed has been identified as being prone to speeding.
The Maurice Bishop Highway is another area falling under that category and according to Supt. Connaught, the Traffic Department would not be tolerating speeding on the nation’s road in the New Year.
Addressing a press conference at Police Headquarters at Fort George on Wednesday, the Traffic Chief said that the department recorded a “total of eight fatal road accidents in 2019,” adding, that “we already had one too much for 2020 and we are looking forward to full compliance (to the speeding regulations).”
“I want people to be aware that the police will be out there checking and making sure that the public roadway is safe. So, we want to create that level of deterrence from the onset and not having to react to a fatal accident,” he said.
Supt Connaught urged the motoring public to “drive with the consideration that there are other persons using the road”.
“Public safety – once we have that as our watch word we will achieve the results that we are looking forward to in 2020,” he said.