A driver attached to Stabroek News died yesterday morning after he lost control of the vehicle he was driving along the Diamond Public Road on the East Bank Demerara (EBD).
Dead is 49-year old Owen Elliot, a father of four of Lot 168, Thomas Street, Kitty. Reports are that around 4 am yesterday, Elliot was on his way to deliver newspapers along with a colleague Harold Lam when the incident occurred.
Reports are that the man lost control of the vehicle, a Suzuki van on the public road, close to a turn near the Demerara Distillers Limited (DDL) compound. His workmate Lam was a passenger in the vehicle at the time.
Reports are that the Suzuki van which Elliot was driving skidded in a pool of water at the side of the road and the vehicle subsequently ended up in the trench. The man reportedly died from drowning while Lam escaped with minor injuries.
Elliot’s wife Annette Lawrence related that her husband left home early yesterday morning to deliver newspapers in the EBD area. She said her daughter received a call from a workmate around 4 am yesterday and the caller stated that her father was involved in an accident.
She said that she tried to contact the Diamond Diagnostic Centre on the EBD for information on the accident but no one was available .The grieving woman added that she later travelled to the hospital where her worst fears were confirmed.
She said she and Elliott had been together for the past 21 years and she described the man as a friendly, helpful and caring individual.
Colleagues also spoke highly of his caring nature yesterday and his death came as a shock to most, including drivers with whom he worked. Elliot has been working with the Guyana Publications Inc (GPI) for the past eight years. Company Secretary Shaleeza Khan described him as a pleasant and jovial individual who always wore a smile.
She said he was attached to the Circulation Department of the company and his duties included the delivery of newspapers around Georgetown, the EBD, parts of the East Coast Demerara and West Bank Demerara.
Khan said the Human Resources Department of GPI has been in contact with the family and the company will assist in meeting the expenses for the wakes, which will be held in Elliot’s honour, and his funeral.
Elliot’s body is at the Lyken’s Funeral home in the city and he is expected to be buried within the next few days. A post-mortem examination is expected to be performed on his remains later this week.
