Freak accident claims man’s life

A 44-YEAR-OLD man died while undergoing emergency surgery at San Fernando General Hospital, moments after an exploding tyre landed on him in what investigators termed a freak accident, yesterday evening.

Siew Sohan died shortly after arriving at hospital with major injuries to his head caused by the accident. An investigation is now underway to ascertain the circumstances surrounding the accident. According to reports, around 12.40 pm Sohan was at a tyre shop at St Mary’s Junction, Freeport pumping air into a truck tyre, when it exploded. Newsday was told that the tyre was pitched several feet in the air by the explosion and landed on top of Sohan. The unconscious, bleeding man was taken to the Couva Hospital where he was treated and transferred to the San Fernando General Hospital, where he subsequently died while receiving emergency treatment. An autopsy is expected to be carried out on Sohan’s body today. PCs Otello and Nelson visited the scene and are continuing investigations.