“He promised me that he was coming home ” – mother of youth killed after crashing into an abandoned vehicle

The death of 22-year-old Vinode Jeetendra Deo, a construction worker from Crabwood Creek, Corentyne, Berbice, on Sunday along the Crabwood Creek roadway has led to calls for the removal of derelict vehicles parked along the main thoroughfare.

Deo reportedly crashed into an abandoned tapir that was parked along the Crabwood Creek main access road. A post-mortem performed on his body on Monday by Government Pathologist Dr. Vivakanand Brijmohan determined the cause of death was a fractured skull.

However, speaking with the Guyana Times, the young man’s mother, Shavnie Motiram, recalled the last conversation she had with her son just hours before the fatal accident, which occurred at about 15:00h. “In the afternoon, we came from work and called him on the phone. We told him to come home, and he said yes, he would come home. He was right in the village area,” she related.

Soon after the conversation, she received a telephone call informing her that her son had been involved in an accident. “He promised me he was going to come home. While he was coming back, I got a phone call that there was an accident on the roadside,” she said. Initially given incorrect directions, Motiram said she went straight to the hospital, where she eventually saw her injured son. “I saw his foot bent up, but I didn’t get to see his face,” she recalled.

The devastated mother said she was later informed by doctors that her son had succumbed to his injuries. According to the information she received, Deo’s motorcycle collided with an old Tapir truck that had been parked on the roadside for years. “I understand he was going over the road and then he crashed into the old tapir on the road.”

The aggrieved mother believes the abandoned vehicle should have been removed from the area long ago. “They should remove those vehicles because it’s a public road. Clear it up,” she urged.

She expressed concern that similar tragedies could occur if abandoned vehicles continue to occupy public roadways. “I feel they should really clear the roadway because a lot of accidents are happening. Young people are passing away. It’s not nice. They should really remove it. This is an old, old Tapir on the roadway.”

According to the mother, the vehicle had been sitting at the location for decades. ” The tapir has been there for over 20 years,” she said.

Describing her son, Motiram said he was hardworking, friendly, and always willing to assist others. “He works construction with his father. He does all kinds of work. He’s a friendly person and very helpful. Everybody in this area knows him.”

Residents of the area echoed similar concerns and called for action to be taken against derelict vehicles left along public roads.

Anushka Ramjass described the abandoned vehicle as a hazard. “It is a piece of junk. It doesn’t need to be there. If somebody swerves and runs into the drain, they may get injured but still survive. Something like this shouldn’t happen,” she said.

Another resident, Anika Deen, said the accident was not the first involving a parked vehicle. “It is not the first time an accident has happened with a parked vehicle on the road. If a vehicle is not working, it should be placed in a yard or sent to a junkyard somewhere else,” she said.

The vehicle remained at the roadside on Monday with its front section damaged due to the collision. Police are continuing their investigations into the fatal accident. (Andrew Carmichael)