A file is to be sent by the police to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) for advice on how they should proceed after the workplace accident that claimed the life of Garfield Souvenir, a Courtney Benn mechanic, almost three weeks ago.
Souvenir, 25, of Good Intent, died on March 11th when a truck reversed and hit a grader that he was laying under at the time in the compound of Courtney Benn Contracting Services, on Water Street, Georgetown.
Souvenir’s chest was crushed by the grader, which he had been fixing. He was rushed to a hospital, where he later succumbed to his injuries.
According to the police at the Brickdam Police Station, so far their investigations have uncovered that the person who was driving the truck at the time was unaware that the vehicle was left in reverse gear by its previous driver. The driver told investigators that he was about to take the truck to be fueled and he jumped in, turned the key and the vehicle reversed.
At the time of the incident, another mechanic was with Souvenir but he was able to save himself since he was at a vantage point to see when the truck was about to crash into them, the police further related.
Meanwhile, Souvenir’s mother, Segreed Paul, told Stabroek News that the Courtney Benn company had been trying its best to help her. When asked if she wants the person responsible for her son’s death be tried, she said that as a mother she don’t think a court will help and she leaves it all in the hands of God.
Paul also told Stabroek News that the company has been cooperative and has been in contact with her since her son’s accident, updating her on the investigations.
When Stabroek News visited the company’s offices yesterday to speak to the manager on duty at the time of the accident, he was not around and other supervisors declined to give a comment.
Stabroek News did learn that the driver who was involved in the accident is still an employee at the contracting company.
Stabroek News visited the Ministry of Social Protection to ascertain whether the accident will be investigated by Occupational Health and Safety Officers. The staff there declined to give a comment on the issue but hinted that all industrial accidents are investigated by them. (Jonelle Fields)
