“It had to be a problem with the truck” – mother of truck driver who drowned

The mother of Sheldon Wilson, the driver who died after the truck he was driving went overboard at the John Fernandes Wharf on Tuesday, believes that her son’s death was as a result of a faulty truck.
Thirty-six-year-old Sheldon Wilson met his demise on Tuesday when the lorry he was operating accidently plunged overboard into the Demerara River.
The man’s mother, Valmai Ramsay, today told Guyana Times that based on the Post mortem examination that was conducted on her son’s body, her son died as a result of drowning.

The woman said this news came as no surprise to her, because she is fully aware that her son had no health complications. She also rejected rumours that her son had committed suicide.
“No sickness! My son never had to go to a doctor…he never sick…he was healthy”, the woman said.
CCTV footage seen by this newspaper showed that the truck slowly rolled off the wharf and into the river.
John Fernandes Limited, in a statement, explained that Wilson was a truck driver contracted to transport grain which had arrived at the wharf.
The company explained that among the several trips made, Wilson’s truck was safely loaded, weighed, and was waiting in line to exit the compound.
However, instead of following the other trucks north in slow possession towards the exit gate, Wilson’s truck continued to roll slowly in a westerly direction towards the river.
The company explained that this slow deviation was noticed by JFL personnel, who raised an alarm to warn Wilson that his truck was heading toward the river.
The company added that the truck was saved from falling into the river by the guardrail on the wharf, at which time workers were able to access the cab and noticed that Wilson was unconscious.
The company said this may have explained his lack of response to their warnings.
Meanwhile, the man’s mother noted that this was the first time her son drove that particular truck and worked with the truck owner.
The woman said she had a feeling that her son should not have gone to work on that day.
“No way! No way! My son didn’t commit suicide. My son ain’t get no problems… First they say he get fits, now is suicide…the man’s truck had a problem! It’s the truck kill my son,” the mother contended.
Nevertheless, the woman believes her son’s death could have been avoided, and she is calling on authorities to conduct a thorough investigation into the incident.