Police probe deadly ‘explosion’

Police investigators said the dead man, identified only as Danny, was an employee at EDASCO Limited, a gas transporting business, located at Longdenville, Chaguanas.

Reports are at about 10 am on Friday as Danny was walking behind a truck, it allegedly exploded.

It was, up to yesterday, unclear as to the cause of the alleged explosion.

On impact, Danny was thrown into the air and rendered unconscious as he landed on the ground.

The injured worker was rushed to the hospital where he subsequently succumbed to his injuries.

However police investigators visited the company a few hours later, at about 3.15 pm, but not to investigate the alleged “explosion”.

Instead Sunday Newsday learnt police had visited, having earlier received a report from hospital officials of an “unnatural death” caused possibly by “chopping” .

Yesterday police investigators explained that it is the norm for hospital officials to contact and inform them of any unnatural deaths.

Although an autopsy will confirm the cause of death, the officer noted that it is possible that Danny sustained the “chop wounds” on impact of the alleged explosion.

“At this stage, we cannot say for sure if it was an accident or homicide. Investigations are ongoing,” a police officer assured.

On Friday Newsday attempted to speak with EDASCO officials on the company’s compound but was told to leave.

General Secretary of the Joint Trade Union Movement (JTUM) Ozzy Warwick yesterday admitted he did not have the “facts” of that particular incident.

As such, he refrained from commenting on it.

Warwick, however, noted: “Workers continue to put their lives at risk when they go to work and most employers continue to ignore proper health and safety standards.

This happens generally speaking. In this particular case, I do not have the facts so I cannot comment.”