PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad and Tobago — The Trinidad and Tobago Police Service (TTPS) is warning motorists against drinking and driving following a fatal road traffic accident along Guaico Tamana Road last Friday night.

Around 10 pm on September 18, Eastern Division officers responded to a crash involving a Toyota Hilux that struck a male pedestrian.

The pedestrian was thrown into a drain on the left side of the roadway and suffered fatal injuries.

Police are continuing efforts to identify him.

Officers who responded to the scene detected the scent of alcohol on the 40-year-old driver from Sangre Grande.

He was administered a breathalyser test, which he failed, and was immediately arrested and charged.

Senior Superintendent Lincoln Daly, head of the TTPS Traffic and Highway Patrol Branch, warned motorists against driving after consuming alcohol.

His warning comes as police continue DUI detection exercises under Operation Watchtower, which targets drivers suspected of driving under the influence.

Daly disclosed that 22 drivers were arrested and charged with DUI offences last weekend.

“This is unacceptable as it places unnecessary risk to all road users,” Daly said.

He noted that the legal limit is 35 microgrammes of alcohol per 100 millilitres of breath, but urged drivers to make more responsible decisions about alcohol consumption before getting behind the wheel.

“Officers are far too often arresting drivers with alcohol levels as much as three and four times in excess of the legal limit,” he said.

“We want persons to return home to their families, and drinking and driving can lead to unintentional tragedies on the roads for all involved.”

The TTPS also reminded motorists that DUI penalties have increased substantially, with a first offence carrying a fine of up to $24,000 and a second offence carrying a fine of up to $45,000.

So far in 2026, 64 people have died on Trinidad and Tobago’s roads, compared with 92 over the same period last year, representing a 30 per cent decrease.