Truck driver killed along Ituni trail identified

The truck driver who died after he careened off a section of the Ituni/Kwakwani trail on Tuesday has been identified as 21-year old Jason Peters of the Essequibo Coast.

The man’s father, Carlos Roberts, told Stabroek News yesterday that the family was informed of Peters’ death by the logging company with which he was employed. He said Peters had been working with the company for about three months.

Another relative told Stabroek News that the accident occurred some time around 4.30 pm on Tuesday at an area along the trail that was washed away in June, after the nearby Kamakabra Creek overtopped owing to heavy rains which swamped the region for several weeks. A temporary bridge has since been erected to enable vehicular traffic to cross the section of the road.

Peters’ relative stated that an eyewitness recalled seeing the truck heading towards the bridge and that the driver “mis-average” the temporary bridge and ended up in the nearby creek. A passenger, who was sitting next to the driver, escaped with minor injuries. According to Peters’ father, his son jumped out of the truck but several logs, which were in the tray of the vehicle, pinned him in the creek. The man’s body could not be retrieved until some time on Wednesday when the logs were removed. Relatives were yesterday finalizing arrangements for burial.

Minibus operators and logging trucks have been using the temporary bridge, which was constructed along the trail as a stop-gap measure after part of the road was washed away. A minibus operator told this newspaper yesterday that several culverts which were placed along the affected section of the roadway had collapsed and no sign was placed to indicate the diversion along the road. The area is located at the bottom of a hill and the temporary bridge, which was built using several logs, was constructed by residents via self-help efforts.

Water from the nearby creek once flowed under the road via a culvert but heavy rainfall resulted in the creek overtopping.

The trail, which is the key link between the logging community of Ituni and Kwakwani and ultimately the coastland, was renovated several months ago. Residents have called on the authorities to ensure road works being undertaken in the area are monitored since parts of the road deteriorated soon after works were completed.