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As noted in the story, reports from the crash scene are that Kendra and Odway Flowers were arguing at the time and the wife allegedly grabbed the steering wheel that caused the husband to lose control of the vehicle. Late this evening the attorney for Odway Flowers Arthur Saldivar told 7News that the report is only speculation at this time and nothing more. According to attorney Saldivar his client is still in shock and still cannot remember what caused him to lose control of the Toyota 4-Runner.

Arthur Saldivar, Attorney & Friend of Odway Flowers
“My client is not saying much. He was heavily sedated yesterday following the accident and as it relates to what occurred inside the 4-Runner, as far as we are aware, he lost control of his vehicle along the edge of the road, the right edge of the road, and he slid into the river. Unfortunately the part where he slid into the river is somewhat deep right there at the bank and the vehicle almost immediately became submerged and filled with water. Outside of that he himself hasn’t said much except that he was given assistance by a person who had jumped into the river. This is a person I would want to say that I’ve known for many years and I have not known him to be a swimmer. If he has learnt from the time I’ve known him at SJC to now I don’t know. But to the best of my recollection he is not a swimmer.”

Jacqueline Godwin,
“I understand a rope had to be thrown out to him to bring him onshore.”

Arthur Saldivar,
“Yes I have been told this.”

Jacqueline Godwin,
“I have also been told that out there on the scene he made a comment to the effect that he and Kendra were arguing at the time and Kendra allegedly grabbed on to the steering wheel which caused him to lose control of the vehicle.”

Arthur Saldivar,
“I have not heard that and I would hope that anything by way of speculation would be dismissed. This is an accident investigation as far as I am aware. My client has not been charged with anything and he is not making any allegations against anyone either.”

Jacqueline Godwin,
“But what caused him to lose control? He cannot remember?”

Arthur Saldivar,
“I don’t know. He at this particular point in time does not recall exactly what happened, except that at the point where he was tethering on the edge of the bank, he was trying to loose the seatbelt for himself and his wife and as the vehicle submerged he continued in that effort. He was unsuccessful in doing that up until I guess the very end when he managed to himself crawl out. He suffered some trauma to his head. Not to the extent that it would be…I guess he was in pain, he basically was in and out of consciousness as a result of medication he got.

When I saw him yesterday he was basically not too responsive and today, just coming to grips with the reality of the situation, he has been basically dealing with that; coming to the reality that he has lost his wife. It must be appreciated that he is a newlywed. This is not a situation where a person having had lost a loved one, especially at this stage of that relationship, it is to expected that he would not be in the best mental frame of mind. And as I said, I can’t go by what I’ve heard. I can only go by what I’ve been told by him and I have not heard anything from him regarding any altercation.”

Jacqueline Godwin,
“Why did he see a need to obtain the services of an attorney or are you doing it just as a former classmate?”

Arthur Saldivar,
“Yes, he did not see the need to retain an attorney. Mr. Miguel Usher who is here, a classmate of his and a good friend, and a number of his friends who were at the Medical Associates last night, they sought to have me come because the police was involved and believed there was some need to have a legal presence there.

As of now there have been no charges laid. Either way we know as a matter of standard procedure that we expect to get some charges down the road.”

And what about the highway? It’s uneven and the traction is poor because of ongoing road works. According to the Ministry of Works, the road is being widened for safety and it will be paved in a month. At that time, they’ll also install a crash guard along the river bank. It will not be made form concrete and will be buttressed by piles.