One dead, two injured

Oct 06, 2012 News

…as timber truck crashes on Highway

One man is dead and two others were injured after the timber truck in which they were travelling crashed on the Soesdyke/Linden Highway. Reports are that the incident occurred at around 13:30 hours yesterday just outside the Splashmin’s Resort.
The dead man has been identified as 39-year-old Vijay Samaroo of Good Hope, East Coast Demerara. Those injured are 48-year-old Clyde Bradford and his son Hemraj Samaroo, of Lusignan, East Coast Demerara. Bradford was driving the vehicle and his son was alongside him in the cab, while Samaroo was sitting in the tray of the truck.

Dead: Vijay Samaroo

At the time of the incident, the truck was laden with lumber and the men were reportedly making their way to a location on the East Coast of Demerara. Reports are that the truck suffered a blowout which caused it to veer out of control, resulting in it toppling several times before coming to a halt in an upright position. Vijay Samaroo was reportedly crushed by materials on the truck
This publication was told that the men left earlier this week for St. Cuthbert’s Mission to cut timber.
The dead man’s wife, Satie Seelall told this publication that her husband left their Good Hope residence on Monday and she never heard from him again.
“Meh went home and meh just get a call saying that meh husband get in a accident, and when we deh half way to de hospital meh hear he dead.”
Fighting to hold back tears, Seelall said by the time she got to the hospital her worst fears were confirmed, as officials there informed her that her husband had been pronounced dead on arrival at the institution. Reports are that the man died while on his way to the Diamond Diagnostic Centre.
The two injured men were treated at the same institution, but were subsequently transferred to the Georgetown Public Hospital.
This publication was told that the driver of the truck sustained severe head injuries and was bleeding through his nostrils and ears when he first arrived at the hospital. The other man sustained injuries to his shoulder.
Further, there are reports that the driver of the truck had borrowed the vehicle from a friend. The man who died was an employee of the truck’s owner.
The owner, who was at the hospital, said that the incident was unfortunate and he was thankful that his other employees were not on the trip. He said that at least two other employees were scheduled to go on the trip, but pulled out at the last minute.
Meanwhile, back at the scene of the accident, the truck was a complete wreck. Pieces of timber were seen among the wreckage. There were shreds of burnt-out tyre. A little later, a truck arrived on the scene and

The wrecked truck

persons began loading the scattered pieces of timber onto the truck. Up to press time yesterday the two injured men were being treated for their injuries.