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Taxi driver burns to death in car explosion
By Zena Henry
Shock waves went through the usually quiet East Coast Demerara farming community of Plantation Hope
Twenty-four-year-old Andrew Budburgh
yesterday when a young taxi driver was burnt to death in full view of residents who, despite their efforts, failed miserably to save his life.
Twenty-four-year-old Andrew Budburgh was burnt beyond recognition when the Toyota 192 motorcar he was driving exploded and became engulfed in flames. Public spirited persons, including his family members were unable to rescue the man from the burning vehicle since all the windows were wound up, and the doors were locked shut.
An eyewitness who gave her name as Sabrina said that she was in her home cooking just after midday when she heard a “loud explosion”. She bolted outside to see what the noise was about. The woman, who lives a stone’s throw away from where the incident occurred, said that she stood in horror watching flames rage from the vehicle with someone still inside; screaming hysterically.
She said neighbours and residents started to emerge from all corners of the area. Some persons rushed to open the car door, but it refused to budge. She said small explosions were being heard from the vehicle while persons were attempting the rescue. This caused some reluctance with other persons who felt that a larger explosion could occur at any time.
Sabrina explained that the immense heat coming from the vehicle also made it difficult for persons who sought to go close. According to her, “Everything dem try look like if it only helping de fire.”
She said residents doused the fire with buckets of water but it only grew bigger.
Twenty-four-year-old perishes in car explosion.
Some persons used sand and again the fire seemed to be growing with the improvisations. After some time, residents were left to watch helplessly as the fire raged on. Firefighters arrived on the scene later and they were left to battle the blaze.
Budburgh was said to be spending time with his grandmother at 395 Plantation Hope Phase Two when the incident occurred. He was said to be moving back and forth between his mother’s home; a few villages away at De Hoop and his grandmother’s residence.
His mother, Sharon Persaud, was inconsolable and unable to speak when a reporter made contact with her via telephone and a family friend engaged the newspaper. However, when the reporter visited the grandmother’s home yesterday afternoon, the dead man’s still emotional cousin, Safene Budburgh, said that her relative had just left home when the incident occurred.
She said the young man had arrived home and had barely spent 10 minutes in the house before jumping back into his car and driving off. It was estimated that the man had travelled just over 300 metres when the explosion was heard. The cousin said that she rushed out to see what had happened and was in disbelief when she saw that it was her relative’s vehicle on fire.
Tonya Budburgh, the dead man’s aunt, was still in shock when interviewed at the grandmother’s residence. She explained that the young man said very little when he came home, uplifted some clothing and headed out for the road again.
The Budburghs said they are at a loss as to what happened yesterday. The aunt, cousin and the family friend all pointed to the seemingly distant behaviour of the deceased, but they hesitated to say that the incident was suicide.
The relatives said that as of late, the young Budburgh had become extremely reserved, and even seemed a bit depressed. The aunt and friend both said that on different occasions they sought to speak with young man but he always brushed their concerns aside saying that he was fine and it was nothing to worry about.
Safene said yesterday, that when Andrew was home they smelled gasoline, but no one saw him with a container or anything in hand. The relatives were adamant however about their relative becoming really drawn back, sometimes depressed and uninterested.
When asked, the family friend said that he is unaware of any event that would have caused the young man to take his own life. He hinted to the young man having a slightly hard time in his younger days, but nothing to draw him to such drastic measures now.
A post mortem is expected on the lad’s body in the coming week.
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