Parika pensioner dies after hit by truck

Christiani Bowling
Christiani Bowling

A Parika pensioner died yesterday morning after he was struck down by a  truck on the Parika Public Road. The accident occurred sometime between 8 and 8.30 am.

The dead man has been identified as Christiani Bowling 69, of Boodhoo Scheme, Parika, East Bank Essequibo.

At the time of the accident, Stabroek News was told that Bowling was on his way to the local Guyana Elections Com-mission Office.

The truck that was involved in the accident

Police Commander of ‘D’ Division, Linden Lord, told this newspaper that  preliminary investigations revealed that Bowling and the truck GWW 4008 were travelling in a northern direction on the public road. Bowling was riding a bicycle.

Lord explained that the investigation revealed that the truck was overtaking when the left side of the truck’s tray connected with Bowling’s handlebar causing him to lose control and fall.  He fell between the truck’s left-side wheels.

Unfortunately, before he was able to move, his head was crushed by the truck’s rear wheel.

He was picked up and rushed to Leonora Cottage Hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

The driver is currently in police custody and is assisting them in their investigations.

Bowling’s daughter, Debra (only name given), yesterday told this publication that her father was on his way to the Parika GECOM office to make a correction to his registration form.

“He was taking his birth certificate to the office because they made a mistake and put female instead of male, so he had to go with his birth certificate to make the correction,” she explained.

Additionally, the daughter expressed concern over the fact that a business entity, which is equipped with surveillance cameras and so recorded the accident, is reluctant to release the footage to the police.

She is fearful that the withholding of footage would prevent the family from getting justice.

The body is currently at the Ezekiel Funeral Parlour awaiting an autopsy.