The lifeless body of an elderly man who was struck down by a Canter truck yesterday morning at Diamond, East Bank Demerara was left exposed to the elements for several hours before being taken to a city mortuary.
Dead is 60-year-old Jaichand Rajaran of Lot 4 Grove Squatting Area, East Bank Demerara.
Rajaran was hit just a stone’s throw away from the Diamond Islamic Complex where relatives and friends said he had collected food minutes before.
From all appearances it seemed as though the elderly man was crossing the road when he was struck by Canter truck GHH 7472, which was heading in a southerly direction.
When Stabroek News arrived on the scene several hours after the incident, ranks from the Police Traffic Department had already marked off the point of impact which was almost in the middle of the western lane. About 25 feet up, visible skid marks were also observed and tire tracks were in the grass leading to the trench. One of the boots the man was wearing was still lying on the side of the road.
The driver of the Canter that hit Rajaran is in custody and the vehicle is parked at the Grove Police Station.
A huge dent in the middle front section of the vehicle is evident and the windscreen was smashed.
Stabroek News was told that the accident occurred around 10:30 yesterday morning at which time it was raining heavily.
One woman who was at the family’s home yesterday afternoon said that Rajaran would usually collect lunch from the masjid and yesterday was no different. She said that after collecting the food he was returning home on foot when he was struck down.
This newspaper understands too that from all appearances, the elderly man was dragged for some distance. She said that when she arrived on the scene she could not recognize Rajaran because of the injuries to his face. She said that another vehicle had to pull the Canter out of the mud and relatives on the scene were told to wrap the man’s body with a sheet.
“Even the bowl of food which he had just collected and his umbrella was right where he was hit,” one bystander said.
“The truck drag he almost to de trench. When it stop, one a he foot been under de Canter and he boots been on de road. If you see how de windscreen smash in,” this newspaper was told.
Relatives said the police were prompt in their response to the accident but they [relatives] could not explain why the man’s body was left on the road for such a long time.
Rajaran leaves to mourn six children and five grandchildren.
