A YOUNG labourer of West Coast Berbice was crushed to death by a lorry that was reversing in the Hack Rice Mill Compound, Golden Grove, West Coast Berbice.

The labourer has been identified as Tullaram Harrylall, 18, of Lot 855 Bath Settlement, West Coast Berbice. The incident occurred at 11:30hrs on Monday.

According to reports, the motor lorry bearing registration number GRR 7060 with trailer TWW 1259 was driven by Asad Baksh, 24, called “Blackboy.” Baksh, reports suggest is an unlicensed driver.

The Guyana Chronicle understands that the driver of the lorry indicated to police that while he is not the holder of a driver’s licence, would reverse lorries awaiting loads into the boiler area to be loaded with bulk rice.

At the time of the incident he was reversing the motor lorry with a container into the boiler area for the container to be loaded with bulk rice, when he was alerted by an employee to stop. He did immediately and exited and went to the back of the vehicle where he saw Harrylall lying on the ground motionlessly.

Harrylall was picked up by a fellow employee and taken to the Fort Wellington Hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival. The body is currently lying at Anthony’s Funeral Home awaiting a post-mortem.

Meanwhile, a relative of Harrylall who also works at the rice mill, said he was at the gate area when he heard screams and other employees shouting “come see what happened!”

“About three of them boy run, one say come guh see what happened, so I thought was something normal and few ah we still run go. When I reach I recognise he shirt and me see he lie down on the ground so I thought was a normal buss he get on he head, but when meh go closer meh jump cause half way ah he head smash up and them boys say a truck brace am into a forklift,” the relative said.

He added that it was only last night (Sunday night) he spent a few hours hanging out with Harrylall.

“Me, he and one of meh friend went by me and we was handing out and left seh he come work today and he die. Meh never expect something like this,” the relative noted.

Harrylall was described as a hardworking and jovial individual. The police are investigating the incident.