A nineteen-year-old labourer was on Saturday night crushed to death in an accident on the Craig, East Bank Demerara (EBD) Public Road.
Dead is Sachin Persaud of 69 Avenue ‘A’ Diamond, EBD. Persaud was crossing the road when he was struck by a speeding car and seconds later crushed by a second car that was travelling in the opposite direction.
Stabroek News understands that subsequent to the accident, Persaud’s body was left on the road for approximately two hours before it was removed by police.
Surveillance footage circulated on Facebook and seen by this newspaper showed that Persaud was crossing with another individual. As the vehicle was approaching, the individual ran across the road while Persaud abruptly stopped and the vehicle hit him.
In the video, it was observed that after the first vehicle came into contact with Persaud he was catapulted into the air and landed several feet away from the point of impact.
Persaud’s father, Nandlall Persaud told Stabroek News yesterday that to his knowledge his son suffered broken hands and feet along with head injuries.
“My wife call and tell me he get lick down. I work as a security guard and I couldn’t leave to go. But they tell me how police tek long to come on the scene and how they left he there for hours,” the father said.
The elder Persaud said his son was on his way home after purchasing water from the shop when the accident occurred.
He explained that a week ago his son had moved to Craig with his girlfriend. He was working in the area and ventured to the shop after returning from work.
Persaud called for a thorough investigation into the death of his son especially since he was left on the road for approximately two hours.
“The police tek long to arrive on the scene to move my son but they could have been there escorting a crane from Junior Sammy… Nobody couldn’t have move my son and they had to wait for police to come from Grove Station but you had police escorting Junior Sammy. They didn’t stop… Is like poor people have no say or cannot get any co-operation from the police”, he lamented.
Two drivers, a statement from the Police Communications Unit yesterday said are currently in custody assisting with the investigations.
Preliminary reports from the police yesterday stated that at about 8 pm, Persaud was crossing the road in the vicinity of Natram’s General Store when he was struck down by motorcar PXX 2746, owned and driven by 47-year-old Leslie Griffith of South Ruimveldt, Georgetown. Seconds later, police said motorcar PXX 8548, owned and driven by 49-year-old Vanburn Milo of Kaneville, EBD drove over him.
The police reported that the ambulance from the Diamond Fire Station was summoned and arrived shortly after. The doctor on the team of Emergency Medical Technicians that arrived on the scene pronounced Persaud dead.
“… I will like the Police Commissioner and the Minister to look into this,” the distraught father said.
According to the police, the deceased’s body was picked up and taken to Carmen’s Funeral Parlour awaiting an autopsy examination.
Breathlyser tests administered to the drivers found no trace of alcohol but notices of intended prosecution were served on both, the police said.
