An early morning accident yesterday along the Winifred Gaskin Highway at Wismar, Linden has left a BOSAI security officer dead.

Wilton Craig

Dead is Wilton Craig, 58, of Lot 51 Half Mile, Wismar, Linden.  Residents along the scene of the accident said that shortly after 5 am yesterday morning they were awakened by a loud noise. They said that they paid no heed to the sound but were alerted to the accident by a passer-by.

Craig was riding his bicycle heading to work when he met his demise. He was struck by a Wisroc mini bus, BHH 7849 which was being driven by Terrence DaSilva aka Brother Terry, 51,  of 268 Block 22 Wismar. DaSilva said that he was heading home from a night club when he collided with the man.

Bus driver Terrence DaSilva aka Brother Terry

He was unable to give a clear explanation of how he collided with the cyclist. Covered with bruises and cuts about his face and hands, DaSilva said the accident occurred 10 minutes after he left the club. A police officer on the scene took a breath sample using the new breathalyzer.

From marks on the road it would appear that the mini bus went off its lane before colliding with Craig. He was dragged with his bicycle approximately 38 yards before being thrown into a nearby drain where the bus also finally came to a stop.

Back at the home of Craig it was an emotional scene as neighbours, relatives and friends gathered to console his family. His wife, 51-year-old Wenola Craig sat in a living room chair holding her head.

Wilton’s family: From left daughter Tonia, wife Wenola and son Denzil

She recounted that the activities of the morning were routine as she usually awakened at 4 am to prepare her husband’s breakfast before seeing him off for work. “He sit down here and he drink he tea and then when he finish he said that he going and he went to the back and look around then he went to de fowl pen and he peep de chicken and I watch he jump on he bicycle and he ride off and he said ‘Wini a going’ that was his last words to me”, the wife said.

The distraught woman said that shortly after her husband had left her son began preparations to leave for a church commitment at 48 Miles when the phone rang. “As he gone I went and lie down back in me bed when de phone rang and then I hear me son hollering, he hollering all de time and I ask him what happen, what happen. He say cousin Denise call just now and say daddy get knock down but she ain’t certain if daddy dead.. and den me pastor come and he tell me dat me husband dead some man name Brother Terry knock down my husband.”

The mangled bicycle and helmet of Wilton Craig at the scene of the accident

Craig was a father of seven, Denzil, 10, Tonia, 16, and Ryan, 18, who lived with him and his wife while the other four live out of town. He previously worked with the Linmine Secretariat but went on to work with BOSAI  just over six months ago.