Three die following accidents

Three persons died yesterday as a result of the injuries they sustained after being involved in separate vehicular accidents.

Dead are 65-year-old George Kerrett of Lot 97 Fifth Street, Cummings Lodge, East Coast Demerara, Ranjarran Hanoman, 44, of Belmont, Mahaica and Nankissoon Khelawan of Lot 7, River View, Ruimveldt.

On Thursday morning around 10:30 Kerrett, who was riding a motorcycle, was about to turn into Sheriff Street from David Street when a truck hit him. The truck reportedly dragged him several feet before coming to a halt. Kerrett, who had a badly damaged left leg and other injuries about his body, was picked up and taken to the Georgetown Hospital.

On arrival he was taken to the operating theatre were he underwent surgery for several hours during which the damaged leg was amputated from just above the knee. Although conscious, Kerrett was admitted to the Intensive Care Unit of the Hospital where he was put on a life support machine. He died just after midday yesterday.

At his Cummings Lodge home last evening many persons congregated to offer their support and condolences to the dead man’s family.

Kurt, one of his children told Stabroek News that he was informed that his father was attempting to turn into Sheriff Street when the truck collided with him. He said that his father was in surgery until around 7 pm that day during which time the leg was amputated. Kurt stated that up to yesterday morning when he visited his father he was talking and everyone including the nurses were happy about the progress he was making. He said he was outside waiting to see his father again when he died. It was while standing outside, the medical personal in the unit were trying to revive him. Kurt stated that he was told that his father went into shock and his organs collapsed.

He stated that he knew that the driver went to the Kitty Police Station after the accident but could not say if he was still in police custody. At the time of the accident, he said, his father was riding a Jailing 70 motorcycle. Kurt told this newspaper that his father has been riding for years and was using this particular cycle for the last three or four years.

Kerrett leaves to mourn his wife Joyann, five children and other relatives and friends.

Around 4:30 yesterday afternoon Khelawan was involved in an accident on the Houston Public Road, East Bank Demerara.

Reports reaching Stabroek News are that around 4:30 pm, Khelawan was riding a cycle and while crossing the road he was hit by a Rav 4 vehicle. He had minutes before collected his salary from the Houston Bag Factory where he worked as a security guard.

He was picked up sometime later by police but died while on the way to the Georgetown Hospital.

A source told this newspaper that the injured man arrived at the medical institution shortly after 4 pm almost two hours after the accident and by that time he was already dead. The driver of the Rav 4 is presently in police custody. The man’s wife Juliet was in tears and surrounded by relatives when this newspaper visited the home. Holding back tears she said that her husband was only employed at the factory for three weeks and had gone to collect his first salary.

She said that from reports she received it appears like a vehicle had slowed down to allow her husband to cross the road but the Rav 4 came from behind and hit him while he was crossing.

She said that at the time of the accident her husband was going to his brother who lives in the area to drop off his pay

“I hear how the vehicle drag he several feet. When I went to de scene all the bicycle wheel bend up”.

She said that the police came after the accident and took her husband to the hospital. She added that her husband also operated a brush cutter and was the sole breadwinner for his family.

Khelawan leaves to mourn his wife, two daughters and six grandchildren.

Meanwhile, Hanoman was taken to the Georgetown Hospital around 5:30 yesterday afternoon with injuries to his head and body. Stabroek News was informed that he was hit by a vehicle on the Success Public Road, East Coast Demerara. He was on a motorcycle at the time. He was pronounced dead on arrival at the medical institution.