Instead of celebrating her son’s 28th birthday today, Betty Rooplal is preparing for his funeral.
On the brink of tears at her Debe home yesterday, the mother of two said they had planned to cook duck and buy a birthday cake and ice cream for her eldest child, Ryan Sookoo.
Unfortunately, just after 2 pm on Monday, he was crushed by a truck along the SS Erin Road in Debe while on his way home.
The police report stated that the 20-tonne Mack truck was passing a KFC delivery truck parked on the side of the road, when Sookoo walked between both trucks, suddenly turned right and came in contact with the truck’s tray. He fell on the road and the left rear wheels rolled over him, crushing his head. The police conducted a field sobriety test on the driver which recorded no alcohol.
Sookdeo’s sister, Radha, 27, said she doesn’t blame the driver but said they were awaiting the findings of the police investigation.
“Based on the video we saw, he was standing in between the delivery truck and the other truck. I don’t know if he got squeezed and he didn’t get room to pass so he tried to run. Some people say he fell on the road, some people say he was pushed.”
However, she added, “If the driver is at fault, we would like to see legal action taken against him.”
Sookoo suffered from seizures and received a disability grant.
Sookoo’s mother, Rooplal, 48, said her son came to meet her in Debe on Monday, as she was running some errands. She said she told him to go home and rest and he was heading home when the accident happened.
“He was not crossing the road. He was making his way behind the KFC van and then was going to walk home,” she said.
The mother claimed motorists usually drove recklessly along that road.
“People drive mad on that road, like if it’s a highway. All the drivers are too hurry and busy. Every day I see that. They do not give people, whether it is old people or children, time to cross the road.”
She urged them to “take their time “ on the road.
An autopsy is scheduled for Thursday. San Fernando police are investigating.