Driver escapes unhurt after tree crushes truck

Apr 03, 2009 News

Truck driver Hugh Paul escaped unhurt

The owner of a Canter truck is questioning who will compensate him for his vehicle which was extensively damaged when a tree that lines the avenue on Carmichael Street came crashing down yesterday morning at around 08:15 hours.

Thankfully, the driver, who was the lone occupant, was spared serious injury although the tree flattened his side of the vehicle.
Hugh Paul, the truck driver, told this newspaper that he had come to the city to pick up some goods.
Hs said that he was proceeding north along Carmichael Street, and had just crossed Middle Street when he heard several horns honking.

At the time he was unaware that other motorists who had observed that one of the trees that lined the avenue was about to fall were trying to alert him of the impending danger.
“I hear some car men was blowing but I don’t know why they blowing. Soon as I get across the corner all I hear is, bram! The tree fell on the vehicle and all I could do was jump out,” Paul told members of the media who had converged on the scene.

“I lucky to be alive because the tree smash the whole top of the cab,” he added.
His employer, Mohamed Hack, who operates a supermarket at La Jalousie, West Coast Demerara, went to the Mayor and City Council in his first attempt to secure compensation.
“At least, thank God that the chauffeur alive because he could’a be a dead man. I’m asking the question, who is to be blamed for that? Who is going to pay for the damage?” Hack said.