Updated: Truck driver perishes in Rupununi mishap

Last Updated on Saturday, 26 December 2015, 21:01 by GxMedia

A truck driver was killed Friday night when he was trying to salvage the vehicle that slipped over the edge of a bridge as the the Rupununi river was overflowing its banks.

Relatives identify him as 24-year old Dwayne Sancho Williams of Lethem. He was the son of Sydney Sancho.

The incident occurred around 9 PM.A Citizen Reporter, who went to the scene earlier Saturday, was told that the truck was transporting fuel to the Deep South Rupununi when the driver inaccurately averaged the road in the vicinity of the newly reconstructed Waradapau Bridge.

At the time of the accident, the road was covered with flood waters from the Rupununi River.

The reporter said when the truck ran off the road and stuck, efforts were made to locate the vehicle’s winch but that proved difficult.

Realising that the water level was rising at a fast rate the driver assisted the porter who eventually became weak.

The driver dived to release the winch but was unsuccessful. After passengers on the truck realised that the driver was not seen they raised an alarm.

Villagers launched a search and later discovered Williams’ body in nearby bushes .

The tragedy occurred approximately 75 miles away from Lethem. The body was taken to the Lethem hospital mortuary by relatives and police