Photo by Dalton Laing
Curious onlookers take in the scene of the fiery motor vehicle crash that claimed the lives of two men Thursday night.

Dalton Laing, Gleaner Writer

LITTLE LONDON, Westmoreland:

Harold Theo Chambers, son of motivational speaker and president of the Rotary Club of Lucea, Theo Chambers, and Christopher Clarke perished in a fire as a result of a motor vehicle crash along the Little London main road in Westmoreland Thursday night.

Reports are that Chambers, 26, an information technology specialist, was driving his Hyundai motor car toward Savanna-la-Mar about 10:30 p.m. when he swerved to avoid a collision with a car which was turning across the roadway. He reportedly lost control of the vehicle and crashed into a white Toyota Corolla driven by Neil McIntosh of Delveland in the parish.

That impact caused the Hyundai to overturn and slide off the road, crashing into an unfinished house before bursting into flames. Both Chambers and Clarke, 24, of Nonpareil Road, were trapped in the vehicle and perished in the fire before help could reach them.

McIntosh suffered multiple minor injuries and was taken to the Savanna-la-Mar Hospital where he was treated and released.

Theo Chambers Sr, who watched amid tears as the charred remains of his son and Clarke were removed, explained that he witnessed the accident but never knew it was his son.

"I was right there (he pointed a little down the road) when I saw the accident happen. I saw the car went off the road and burst into flames.

"When I realised that they will burn to death, I said to myself: 'You know that somebody is going to be sad that their child or husband died and may God bless their soul and I hope nothing happen'. Not long after, I realised that it is my son in there burnt to death. I am here watching everything and did not know that it is my son alive right there burning to death."

Good Samaritan injured

A good Samaritan, Gary Clarke, who lived close to the scene of the accident, suffered burns to his hand and leg when he attempted to rescue the trapped victims.

"Me lie down on the floor a sleep when me hear the brake and the impact, so me run out in the road and me see the two car so me go over to the car which run off the road and as me try fi open the door me see the fire and by me make fi try take them out the fire just make whom! And me have to back off."

He explained that he suffered the burns because all that was on his mind was to save the lives of the occupants of the car. He was taken to hospital where he was treated and released.