Senior Reporter
sascha.wilson@guardian.co.tt
The son of Amarjit Balkissoon, who was killed on Old Year’s Night in a road accident in South Oropouche, is demanding justice.
The 53-year-old was crossing the main road near Anand Gym, Belle Vue, around 10.18 pm, when a seven-seater driven by a Point Fortin man struck him.
Police confirmed that the driver was not under the influence of alcohol, with a breathalyser test returning negative results. However, Balkissoon’s son, Anthony Balkissoon, 32, is not convinced the driver was not at fault.
In an interview at his La Brea home yesterday, Anthony said, “In my honest opinion, it had real room in the highway. It have four lanes on the highway. He was quite on the far left...He had time cross one, two lanes, the centre of the highway, cross the next lane and then onto the fourth lane, almost to the triangle, right before Oropouche. Two footsteps again, and you telling me you did not see that man there?”
He added that the driver was speeding.
“The speed he was coming with, my father get hit by the median and pitch almost 100 and something feet, and the car stop about 50 feet after that. So you could imagine the speed he was going at.”
Anthony believes the driver had sufficient room to avoid hitting his father. He also said the autopsy had not yet been completed and that police have not provided any updates on the investigation.
“That’s manslaughter. You bounce somebody and kill them,” Anthony said, denying rumours that his father may have been intoxicated or at fault.
However, he said his father went to work earlier that day, but instead of going home, he went to visit friends as it was Old Year’s. His father had been staying by his sister in South Oropouche.
Anthony learnt about his father’s death through a social media link that was forwarded to him. He appealed to drivers to slow down and drive responsibly on the nation’s roads.
Police confirmed the driver is not in custody, but investigations are ongoing.
