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US-based Guyanese dies after car exolodes

Aug 05, 2009 News

SCHENECTADY — The Fire Department is investigating a car explosion on George Street that severely burned a city man who died several days later.

Yesterday, family members described the victim, Kooldeep Premraj, 53, as a loving family man and good neighbour.

They said that Premraj woke up in the early morning hours of July 27 to the sound of his son’s BMW car alarm. Premraj saw the interior of the car on fire and called 911 before grabbing a garden hose. The car exploded, burning Premraj.

He was taken by ambulance to Albany Medical Centre, then flown to Westchester Medical Center. He died at 4:18 a.m. Saturday.

“We don’t know if it’s arson or not,” said police Detective Kevin Green, adding that it is unclear if the injuries from the explosion caused Premraj’s death.

Green said an autopsy was inconclusive.

The cause of the fire is under investigation and officials aren’t releasing any details until their investigation is complete, said Fire Chief Robert Farstad.

Premraj came from the Berbice region of Guyana to Richmond Hills, Queens, in 1996, according to his brother, Lake Boodhoo, 54, of Queens.

He moved to Schenectady in August 2002 with his wife, Dro Premraj, and four children. Premraj, who had been a truck driver, drove a school bus in the Schenectady School District for Northland Transportation.

Vick Singh, 21, called his father-in-law a “hard worker, a family man, who always put his family first, no matter what.”

Singh, who is married to Premraj’s daughter Amatist, 22, said his father-in-law was well known in the neighbourhood. “If you needed anything you called him and he was there.”

Premraj cleaned the block of snow after a storm, and if someone moved in, he was the first to introduce himself and invite the neighbour over for dinner.

He also brought many other families to the area from Queens.

Ryan Nandkishorelal, 20, fiancé of Premraj’s daughter Porscha, 20, said Premraj and his wife were inseparable, even hunting deer together.

“He was a really giving person, an outgoing person who would help anyone he could. I don’t think I’ve ever felt sad being around him,” Nandkishorelal said.

Family members said Premraj owned five houses in Schenectady, which he bought and fixed with his son Nigel, 23.

Nigel and his wife, Lisa, are expecting a child, Jayden, on Sept. 4. Premraj was excited about his first grandchild, and was building a play area at his house for the baby.

The couple’s oldest daughter, Jenny, is 26. (Albany Times Union, N.Y.)

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