Plaisance mason dies after being hit by car

A Plaisance, East Coast Demerara (ECD) mother of six was last evening pondering her future after the death of her husband, who was struck down on the Better Hope Public Road on Sunday.

According to the police, around 8:45 on Sunday evening David Yacuba, 34, of Lot 54, Graham’s Street, Plaisance, was struck down by a motor car, bearing registration HB 7247.

David Yacuba

Investigations revealed that the driver of the car was proceeding along the roadway when it is alleged that Yacuba, called ‘David Flue,’ attempted to cross the road on his bicycle. He was hit and later pronounced dead on arrival at the Georgetown Public Hospital.

Reports are that the driver of the car was intoxicated at the time of the accident and persons at the scene also reported that he was speeding. It was noted by an eyewitness that Yacuba was flung from the point of impact and landed more than 20 yards away. According to the police, the driver of the motor car is in custody assisting with investigations.

Loud wails could be heard at the Yacuba’s home yesterday afternoon, not long after his family’s received the news of his passing. His wife of 15 years, Carol Johnson, told Stabroek News that her husband, who is a mason, left home around 7 pm on Sunday evening to visit a friend across the Better Hope Public Road, in the vicinity of the community centre.

She said that he did not return as she had expected and according to her, she made inquiries at several locations during the night to find him.

She added that early yesterday she checked with his workplace as well as other areas within the community but no one could say where he was.

The grieving woman stated that the police at the Sparendaam Police Station contacted her late yesterday afternoon and provided details of a man whose body was picked up along the roadway at Better Hope on Sunday night. She said that when the officer stated that the person “had on a purple pants,” she immediately realised that it may have been her husband. The dreaded news was later confirmed by the police officer.

The woman stated that the couple produced three children together. She had three older children from a previous union. She said that the children all depended on her and on Yacuba, who was the sole bread winner of the family.

Johnson said that her eldest son, who is 20, recently joined the army while the others are attending school.

One of the children is preparing to sit the CSEC examinations later this year. The youngest child is a 20-month old baby.