Investigations are continuing into the death of 18-year-old Miguel Stephano Jogee who died instantly when his vehicle crashed into a tree near the Divali Nagar site, Uriah Butler Highway, on Monday.
He was the son of acting head of the T&T Cadet Force Michael Jogee. Michael is also a businessman in San Juan and was the former chairman of the San Juan Business Association.
Police are working on two theories which either suggest that Jogee was being followed by people who allegedly had a confrontation with him at a gas station in San Juan and who had allegedly threatened him.
It is alleged that Jogee may have been trying to elude the men who pulled out behind his vehicle when he drove out of the gas station.
The other theory suggests that Jogee may have been drag racing along the south-bound lane of the highway when he lost control of the vehicle.
The incident occurred at about 9.15 pm. Jogee’s Lexus motorcar slammed into a tree and upon impact ripped apart into mangled pieces. Part of the engine and dashboard ended up lodged on the tree and the other part of the vehicle landed in a ditch off the median.
A party of police officers, including Investigating officer Cpl Ronny-Lee Gopaul, PC Alexander and PC Beharry of the Chaguanas Police Station and Cpl Dublin, PC Sookwah and WPC Bernard of the Freeport Highway Patrol Unit, visited the scene.
Fire officers from the Chaguanas Fire Station also responded and cordoned off the area.
The body was viewed by District Medical Officer Dr Vikaash Ramlogan. It was removed to the San Fernando mortuary and then transferred to the Eric Williams Medical Sciences Complex’s mortuary a few hours later. An autopsy was expected to be done yesterday.
According to an eyewitness, Jogee was seen drag racing with another vehicle, overtaking vehicles heading along the south-bound lane.
The eyewitness said Jogee’s car skidded on the road possibly when he attempted to brake and that was when it was believed he may have lost control of his vehicle.
Jogee’s parents, Michael and Sarrah, were at the scene. Sarrah was seen kneeling besides her son’s covered body and crying. At one time she slumped over him for a few seconds and then took his hand, held it in hers and kissed it as tears rolled down her cheeks. Jogee was the elder of two children.
The other sibling, who is 15 years old, was at home and kept calling his mother to find out where they were.
Sarrah would only say: “Kye, we are here. We are on the highway. Miguel is with us and we will be home just now. We will talk when I come home, okay.”
Speaking with the T&T Guardian at the scene of the accident on Monday night, Michael said he believed his son was not drag racing, although admitting he did send his son to a foreign country for a few training courses in drag racing. He also added his son acquired his certificate for defensive driving.
“I made sure I sent my son to all those courses and training. My son was always so careful. When he was 16 years I got this car for him and it remained parked up for over a year until he got his permit and he could drive. He also has a RX7. My son never asked for anything but everything was for him. At one time I gave him a house and he refused it. He was so humble and angel-like,” Michael said.
He told the T&T Guardian he received footage from a gas station in San Juan where his son was confronted by some men and threatened.
“I understand that he went to the gas station and some guys confronted him and told him his car had rolled back and touched theirs. Maybe they asked him for money and threatened him because there was a confrontation and I have the footage.
“Maybe they followed him when he was on his way to Price Plaza to get something to eat after gym. Maybe they bumped him off the road because my son would not have crashed just so, just like this,” Michael said.
Sarrah added: “My son, would not have taken the car and go liming anywhere. He loved watching movies and always wanted the four of us to go out together as a family for dinner. He and his brother were so close as well. I do not know how my younger son going to survive without Miguel.”