An East Bank contractor died in a highway crash yesterday after the vehicle he was travelling in had a blow-out and slammed into a curb.
Contractor Floyd Washington, of 137 Fourth Street, Agricola, East Bank Demerara reportedly broke his neck after he was tossed from the tray of the pick-up truck. He was pronounced dead on arrival at the Diamond Diagnostic Centre.
Police said Washington, 44, was one of three persons travelling in the tray of the vehicle when the accident occurred around 9.10 am at Hauraruni Public road, Soesdyke/Linden Highway. Jason Boyce, 27, of Annandale, East Coast Demerara and Gregory Sue, 40, of 74 Castello Housing Scheme, were also in the tray of the pick-up when the left side rear wheel blew out, resulting in the driver losing control of the vehicle and colliding with the curb.
Washington and the others were thrown from the tray and sustained injuries, but Boyce and Sue were treated at the hospital and sent away. The driver, who escaped uninjured, is currently in police custody.
Washington’s relatives told Stabroek News yesterday that they had no information on the accident. They said they were merely informed that he was “injured bad” and they subsequently rushed to the hospital and discovered he had died.
Pamela Persaud, his wife, recounted that Washington was only contracted to do some work on Monday and he left for the work site with the group today. She recalled leaving him at home and saying the customary “see you later,” only to receive a telephone call around 10 am to check with the hospital.
Persaud is taking the news hard since she described Washington as a “good man and husband.” She said they have been living together for nearly four years now and that “things were good.” The woman lamented that she had no idea her home would be robbed of Washington’s presence forever when she left earlier yesterday. “You leave home never knowing that this would happen; coming home to a house without your husband,” she said, while adding that the pain was too much.
Washington has been a contractor for years and he leaves to mourn his wife, a daughter and a stepson.
