The proposed $7.5 billion San Fernando to Point Fortin Highway has claimed its first life. The tragedy happened around 9 am yesterday when a steamroller crushed machine operator Ronnie Deonarine, 45, at the Golconda to Debe highway construction site. The mishap occurred about half-a-mile from the private residence of Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar, along the SS Erin Road, Phillipine.
Police said Deonarine, of Panchoo Road, St Julien Village, Princes Town, suffered massive internal injuries when the roller crushed the lower part of his body. He was employed with Junior Sammy Contractors. Up to late yesterday, company officials were meeting with the National Infrastructure Development Company (Nidco) to discuss the incident. A witness said Deonarine was trying to drive the roller onto a trailer truck to get it to another location when the roller began skidding.
"He panicked and tried to jump off but the roller tilted, crushing his lower body," a witness said. Deonarine was taken by ambulance to the San Fernando General Hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival. Deonarine's niece, Adanna Maniram, said she was puzzled about how the tragedy occurred. She said Deonarine was an accomplished steamroller driver and had worked with Junior Sammy Contractors for the past 12 years.
"My uncle working with heavy equipment for a long time. We just cannot understand how this happened," Maniram said. She said he was looking forward to Christmas. "He was a family man. He wanted to visit all our relatives for Christmas," she added. She said Deonarine was always talking about improving his life.
Highway claims one
An official from Junior Sammy Contractors, who requested anonymity, said Deonarine would have been alive if he had not jumped off the roller. He denied heavy rains had made the roller skid. Police, led by Senior Supt Cecil Santana, visited the accident scene yesterday and took statements from witnesses.
An autopsy will be don today at the Forensic Science Centre, St James. Nidco officials were expected to issue a statement on the incident late yesterday. San Fernando Police are investigating.