The city council tractor driver, who ran over an elderly man on Water Street, has been released by police without charge, leaving the dead man’s family furious.
The tractor driver was released on $50,000 station bail late Tuesday night, after being held by police since Monday afternoon. It is unclear why the driver was released, since a post-mortem examination has not yet been completed on the body of Compton Lacon.
Lacon’s daughter Audrey said that they first heard that the man was released when they turned up at the Georgetown Hospital Morgue for the post-mortem examination early yesterday morning. She received confirmation of the release when she visited the Brickdam Police Station later in the day. “I am shocked that he was released. I was very much surprised and disappointed with the [police] force,” the grieving woman said. Police also told her that the man has to report to the police station everyday.
The post-mortem examination revealed that Lacon, 73, died as a result of multiple injuries, including a fractured skull.
His family said yesterday that they were peeved at the city council’s attitude towards their loss. Audrey explained that she along with two siblings visited Mayor Hamilton Green to enquire about expenses for Lacon’s burial. The council’s financial troubles were pointed out by Mayor Green, who, the reportedly told them that “the most he can do is give we the spot for free.”
The man’s relatives believed that it could have been a sizeable contribution to the funeral costs, which are estimated to be over $200,000, and they where shocked when they turned up at the Funeral Home and were told that the cost of the spot was $17,000.
An upset Audrey told this newspaper that the situation was totally unacceptable because her father was killed by a council vehicle, which was being driven by a council employee. The woman noted that in this regard, the council should without hesitation cover their funeral expenses.
Lacon, who was a resident of Mocha Arcadia, East Bank Demerara, died shortly after he was struck by the left rear wheel of the tractor as the driver was negotiating a turn along Water Street on Monday.
Following the accident, the driver fled but he later returned to the scene and was arrested by the police.
