UNABLE to raise the $500,000 bail set by a San Fernando magistrate on Friday, 70-year-old truck-driver Balton Barnwell remained in prison, even up to yesterday.

Barnwell is expected to re-appear in court on Friday, charged with five counts of causing death by dangerous driving.

The father of four had appeared before Magistrate Indira Misir in the San Fernando Traffic Court on Friday, and offered condolences to the families of the five people who died when his truck crashed into a panel van in which the victims and 12 others were travelling. The collision occurred along Mosquito Creek, South Oropouche, on August 15.

Rajesh Ramnarine, 37, of Ralph Narine Trace; nine-year-old Sachin Maharaj, of St Mary’s Village; and 12-year-old Sachin Singh, of Berridge Trace; all died at the scene, while Rishi Ramlogan, 22, of Partap Trace; and 15-year-old Rajkumar Deonarine, of Bamboo Trace, St John’s Road; died at hospital the following day.

They were part of a group of cricket enthusiasts from the Shri Pritiv Devi Ashram Youth Group in South Oropouche who were on their way to witness the ’Balls of Fire’ cricket event at the Queen’s Park Oval in Port of Spain.