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~ Two injured, teacher seriously ~

ST. PETERS--A man whose name was given as Claude Nourant succumbed to injuries received when a truck in which he was a passenger toppled off the road over Sentry Hill in St. Peters and landed front first on Coco Plum Road below around 4:00pm on Saturday.

The driver of the vehicle, teacher Frank Dellamore, and another passenger were injured in the accident. Reports indicate that the truck's brakes suddenly stopped working and the driver was unable to stop the truck which went through a wall, into a yard and fell onto the road below front first.

Nourant was said to have been in the open tray in the back of the truck when the accident occurred. He reportedly jumped out of the truck trying save himself and hit his head on a hard object that apparently cracked his skull. The back of his head had a gaping wound and he is said to have most probably died instantly.

The impact of the accident caused Dellamore to be flung through the windshield of the truck, falling face down onto the road. He received serious injuries to his face and chest.

It could not be ascertained where in the truck the other passenger was riding at the time of the accident, but this individual is said to have received minor scratches and bruises.

According to reports, Dellamore was performing work as a contractor for United Telecommunications Services (UTS) at the time of the accident. His work is believed to have been related to works associated with repairing damage incurred to the company's infrastructure as a result of Hurricane Gonzalo which hit the island last week Monday evening.

The truck involved in the accident, with licence plate number V 77, was said to have been Dellamore's personal vehicle.

Police spokesperson Inspector Ricardo Henson said the driver had been lying next to the truck when several police patrols, paramedics and the Fire Department arrived at the scene of the accident on Coco Plum Road, and had been in a "very serious physical condition."

Henson said a second victim had been lying farther up the hill, not showing any signs of life. Dr. Ruth Douglass pronounced him dead on the scene. The driver was treated on the scene by paramedics and then transported to St. Maarten Medical Center (SMMC) for further treatment.

Henson said the scene had been closed to allow the Traffic Department to conduct an investigation into the cause of the accident. Police did not officially release the identity of the deceased. Henson said the investigation was ongoing.