A 43-year-old construction worker died on Thursday night after he was impaled by a steel rod while riding by an Eccles, East Bank Demerara (EBD) construction site.
Dead is Troy Anthony Ponton, of Lot 939 14th Avenue, Dia-mond Housing Scheme, EBD.
The Guyana Police Force (GPF) yesterday confirmed that an investigation was launched into the circumstances surrounding Ponton’s death, which occurred around 10 pm at Falcon Drive, Industrial Site, Eccles.
Brenton Rodney, a friend of Ponton who was with him at the time, is said to be assisting the police with the investigation.
The GPF yesterday reported that Ponton and Rodney were riding their bicycles along a pavement which had unfinished work and several steel rods protruding from an exposed culvert.
Rodney reportedly told the police that he allegedly heard an impact after which he stopped his bicycle and called out for Ponton.
However, he said he didn’t see Ponton or get any response. When Rodney turned back to investigate, he told the police that he saw Ponton in an upright position in the culvert with a steel rod protruding from his nose.
The ambulance service was summoned and Ponton was later pronounced dead
When Stabroek News visited the scene yesterday, it observed several items surrounding the construction site. It also observed several rods planted in cement blocks.
Blood was visible next to one of the rods, which is situated closer to Falcon Drive.
There was no warnings to indicate the items were there.
It is unknown which construction firm is behind the ongoing works and who own the premises
Fighting to hold back her tears, the dead man’s mother, Sandra Ponton, yesterday told Stabroek News that she was trying to come to grips with his death.
The woman believes that the contractor responsible for placing the items there should be held accountable.
“If they had put these reflector things around it, you would know that is danger,” she said.
She said based on what she understands, her son was reportedly blinded by the lights of a vehicle coming from the other direction, which caused him to fall into the culvert.
“As the car drive up and the light shine in his eyes, he bump into the thing,” Sandra added.
Meanwhile, another relative of Troy, who wished not to be named, said at the time of the accident he was returning home from bible study.
She said it was Rodney who telephoned Sandra and informed her of the tragedy. “The person (Rodney) was saying like he (Troy) fell down and he couldn’t get him up. But like when a light flash, he saw blood was like coming from his (Troy) nostril and his head,” the relative said.
