A Number 19 Village, Corentyne man who was sleeping on an access road died on Saturday evening after he was run over by a pickup which was being driven by the Vice Chairman of Region Six, Zamal Hussain.
Dead is Michael Henriques, 42. The accident occurred sometime after 6 pm at White Bridge, Access Road, Kendall’s Village, East Coast Berbice.
Hussain was yesterday afternoon released on $50,000 station bail
Police in a statement said that motor pickup PXX 3661 was proceeding north along the access road when it is alleged by the driver that he attempted to turn the vehicle around to proceed south out of the said access road.
“In so doing he turned east into Second Street which is situated on the eastern side of the access road and stopped. He then reversed in a north western direction and stopped before proceeding in a south eastern direction and in so doing he felt the vehicle (run) over something on the eastern side of the access road”, the police said.
Hussain then stopped his vehicle and immediately disembarked where he saw a male lying with injuries to his head in an unconscious state. He then picked the man up and rushed him to the New Amsterdam Public Hospital. Henriques died shortly after while receiving treatment.
The Police yesterday also said that a breathalyzer test had been conducted on the driver and it read 00 micrograms. Hussain’s vehicle was lodged and notice of intended prosecution was served on him.
Henriques’ mother, Patricia Henry, 60, yesterday said that she was still in a state of shock as she did not know much about what happened.
She added that she was at home when she was informed that a vehicle had run over her son. She said that she rushed to the scene and then the hospital where she later learnt that her son had died.
The emotional woman said that she has now lost three sons. One had committed suicide, one died of a heart attack and now Henriques.
Residents in the area yesterday told Stabroek News that Henriques would often imbibe and sleep on the roadways. One resident yesterday said that some time before the accident she saw him staggering on the road.
“We see when he pass and he staggering and he must be fall down and sleep right there and then after we hear it had an accident and when we run out we hear is he”, the woman said.
