A porter employed by waste disposal company, Puran Brothers, in Region Two, died yesterday morning after the driver lost control of the garbage truck and ended up in a muddy trench.
Dead is Angel Jesus Azocar Rodrigues, of Region Two. The incident occurred around 5:30 am at Cullen on the Essequibo Coast. Azocar was a Venezuelan national and had only recently started to work with the company.
Investigations revealed that the garbage truck, GAE 4065, was heading from Bushlot to Suddie Public Hospital to pick up garbage. It was driven by Rambeer Singh and he was accompanied by the checker, Aiasiah Latchman, porter, Govje Daniel, and the now-deceased Rodrigues. The driver claimed that he lost control of the vehicle as a result of malfunctioning brakes and ended up in a mud-filled trench. Eyewitnesses recalled that they heard the impact and saw the truck in the mud. Public-spirited persons rushed to assist the men who were pinned inside the cab.
The driver, checker and porter managed to free themselves, however Azocar remained trapped in the cab. Initial efforts to free him were unsuccessful, but eventually he was extricated with assistance from ranks of the Anna Regina Fire Station and rushed by the police to the Suddie Public Hospital in a responsive state. However, upon examination at the hospital, he was pronounced dead.
His body is currently at the Suddie mortuary awaiting a post-mortem examination.
The police are conducting an investigation and the driver is currently in police custody. Puran Brothers Inc has also launched an investigation into the incident as part of the company’s occupational safety and health policy.
According to the company’s occupational safety and health consultant, Dale Beresford, officials of Puran Brothers Inc after learning of the incident travelled to Essequibo and met with the family to offer their condolences and assistance.
Further, management has since notified the Ministry of Labour’s Occupation Safety and Health Department and assured that it is committed to working with the family in keeping with the company’s corporate responsibilities.
A statement from Puran Brothers said that the truck that was involved in the accident was purchased in 2023. The company said that all of its trucks are equipped with telematics devices. The telematics device allows real-time monitoring and tracking of a vehicle’s performance and location. In the case of the garbage trucks, these devices are instrumental in providing valuable insights into the vehicle’s operation, ensuring both efficiency and safety.
“Immediately upon learning of the incident our team accessed the data provided by the telematic device installed in the involved truck. The device provided critical details such as speed, location, and any potential malfunctions that may have contributed to the incident. (Thos) information was retrieved and will be shared to relevant parties as investigations continue”, Puran Brothers said.
According to the company’s occupational safety and health consultant, Dale Beresford, officials of Puran Brothers Inc after learning of the incident travelled to Essequibo and met with the family to offer their condolences and assistance.
Rodriguez recently started to work with the company after acquiring a permit from the Ministry of Home Affairs.
