Fatal accident at smelter site

THE UNION Industrial Estate at Vessigny recorded its first fatal industrial accident when a truck driver transporting gravel to the site lost control of his vehicle and it overturned in a nearby river.

Dead is Danpaul Deonarinesingh, 35, of JP Road, Barrackpore.

The accident occurred at around 9 am yesterday just north of the Vessigny River on the proposed site for the aluminium smelter plant.

Eyewitnesses told the police Deonarinesingh was driving up a dirt road when the truck suddenly began rolling backwards. He lost control of the truck and overturned into a nearby river. Police said Deonarinesingh was pinned under the steering wheel of the truck when it overturned.

A co-worker who witnessed the accident attempted to rescue Deonarinesingh, but was unable to do so because water began entering the truck. The man held on to Deonarinesingh’s hand and tried to pull him out of the truck but lost his grip when the water covered him. Fire officers had to be called to the scene to remove Deonarinesigh’s body from the submerged truck.

Deonarinesingh’s widow, Sumattie, who spoke to Sunday Newsday from the San Fernando Mortuary, said she last spoke to her husband around 4 am yesterday morning.

“He called and told me that he was making one last trip before he came home, because we were supposed to attend one of our friends ‘40 days.’ When my phone rang at 9 am I thought it was Dan calling to tell me that he was on his way home, but instead it was someone telling me that I need to go to the San Fernando General Hospital because my husband had gotten into a very bad accident.

“I cannot take it,” she cried.

Sister-in-law Sumattie Mungroo said Deonarinesingh began working at the site last Thursday.

“He was being paid a higher salary, so he left his last job and took up duty on Thursday. Look what happen now.” Investigations into the fatal accident are continuing.