A 40-year-old clothes vendor was on Saturday crushed to death at Good Hope, East Coast of Demerara (ECD), after he reportedly walked in front of a moving truck.
Dead is Cyon Caunders of Lot 101 Melanie Damishana, ECD.
Based on information received, the motor lorry GRR 6081, which is owned by China Railway First Group Guyana Inc, was proceeding East along the northern side of the public road at about 04:20h.
The 28-year-old driver alleged that he saw the pedestrian walking East on the northern edge of the road at a certain distance in front of the lorry. As he approached, Caunders reportedly walked suddenly across the road in the southern direction and came into contact with the lorry.
Upon seeing that, he claimed he immediately applied the brakes but due to the short distance between Caunders and the vehicle, the pedestrian fell to the ground and was run over by the truck. His head was crushed.
Caunders was taken to the Georgetown Public Hospital (GPHC) where he was pronounced dead on arrival. However, the driver abandoned the motor lorry and fled to his residence where he was arrested by Police ranks.
A breathalyser test was subsequently conducted which indicated a zero per cent alcohol reading. The body was later identified by his mother.
When Guyana Times visited the area, a resident who is employed at a nearby business, related that there was no indication that the truck was speeding.
“I work in the night so I come out and see the guy walking in the corner and it had like two cars before he reach the man. But like when the truck come close, that’s when the guy decide to cross the road and like he didn’t watch for any vehicle on the road,” the man said.
“From what I see, it didn’t look like he (the driver) was speeding but like he panicked when he see that he actually see that he hit the guy and people around call the Police after he go away,” he added.
The onlooker noted that Police ranks arrived shortly after the accident, but it seems as though Caunders died immediately since brain matter was splattered on the roadway.
“The entire part of the road had blood and parts of his brains they had to collect so he probably passed before reaching the hospital.”
The driver is assisting with the investigations as Police continues to probe the incident.
