Man dies in accident after leaving home to buy ‘pine tart’

A fatal accident which occurred on Sunday afternoon at Springlands has left a family grieving after a 39 year old man was struck off his bicycle by a speeding minibus driver who was at the time heading home with his family.

The deceased, Purshotam Tilak, commonly known as Navin, of lot 125 Albert Street, Corriverton Corentyne Berbice had left his home to purchase ‘pine-tart’ at a shop a few streets away from where he lives when he met his untimely demise.

According to the man’s mother, Chitranie Samlall, called Mala, said her son told her that he is heading out to purchase pastries but shortly after a friend of the now dead man went to Samlall and indicated to her that Tilak was struck down on the road.

“The friend come to me and said aunty, Navin get knock down and you gatto go hospital now to see him.”

The grieving woman said when she arrived at the hospital her son was laying on the bed with blood all over his body.

“When I reach all I see is my son laying down dead and blood stains on his skin. His head had a lot of blood and I couldn’t bare to watch him like that. He was my only son and was always by my side, the saddened woman noted.”

She described Navin as a very kind individual and since he was not married and have any children, he always ensure she is well protected and taken care of.

When asked how she will move on from here, the woman said she cannot come to grips with the tragic news and is hoping that she gets justice for her son.

“It hurts to know that my only son is no more. Before he left home he said mommy I’m going to buy pine-tart, I will come back just now; those words went in vain, Samlall said.”

This publication understands that Samlall was riding his bicycle and was turning out a cross street onto the main road when a minibus heading north on the western carriageway slammed into him causing him to fall off the bicycle.

As a result of the impact, Tilak slid a few feet on the road surface where he received severe injuries about his body.

He was picked up and taken to the Skeldon Hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival and driver of the minibus was arrested and taken into custody as a police investigation is underway.

Meanwhile, Samlall noted that the driver of the minibus said he will try to assist her with some of the expenses as she prepares to give her son a proper ‘send off’.