– family seeking justice, answers

POLICE in Regional Division Three are probing a fatal accident which occurred on Monday, August 21, resulting in the gruesome death of 74-year-old Ograsane Samaroo, a resident of Stewartville, West Coast Demerara.

The incident occurred around 19:15 hours on the Leonora Public Road, when a minibus bearing licence plate “BXX 6727” was involved in a collision with a stationary black motorcar registered as “PSS 1233.”

According to statements given by the 54-year-old driver of the minibus, he was travelling in an eastward direction along the northern side of the road. At this point, he noticed the black motorcar parked on the northern footpath, facing east, with its driver’s side door open.

The bus driver recounted to the police that as he passed the stationary vehicle, he observed Samaroo attempting to enter the driver’s seat of the motorcar. In a harrowing turn of events, the minibus driver said that Samaroo lost his balance and fell onto the roadway and the left-front wheel of the bus rolled over him.

Samaroo was subsequently picked up by police ranks and rushed in an unconscious condition to the Leonora Cottage Hospital, where he was pronounced dead on arrival by a doctor.

A breathalyzer test on the 54-year-old bus driver showed no trace of alcohol.

Samaroo’s family, in the wake of this tragedy, has been left devastated and is seeking justice for their loved one.

Asif Khalil, Samaroo’s grandson, during an interview with this newspaper, on Wednesday, expressed the family’s concerns.

Khalil revealed that there has been speculation surrounding the circumstances of his grandfather’s demise. He pointed out that the bus driver had admitted to seeing Samaroo on the ground but was unable to prevent the accident in time.

Khalil further noted that there is a public surveillance camera near the location of the accident, which might provide crucial evidence regarding the events leading up to the incident.

“The driver came to our home today (Wednesday) and admitted he saw my grandfather on the ground but was too late. There is a public camera at where it occurred… The driver is walking free right now, and my grandfather is no more,” Khalil said.