Carnival celebrations in San Fernando were marred yesterday after a music truck crushed a 74-year-old reveller to death on Cipero Street.
Selwyn Little, a pensioner, was holding a banner for Jammerz International, a sailor band, in front of the truck around 4.10 pm when the brakes failed as the vehicle came down an incline.
The truck struck him and then rolled over him.
Police said Little lived in Mon Repos.
Police officers cordoned off the area, and other bands and San Fernando Carnival stakeholders had to get permission from officers to seek alternative routes to get to the judging point in front of the Southern Academy for Performing Arts along the Rienzi Kirton Highway.
At least one band, Fireworks Carnival, which was waiting to enter onto Cipero Street was allowed to turn around and pass through Prince of Wales Street which connects lower down Cipero Street.
“This is very sad, a real tragic way to lose your life. It is nothing we expected. This morning I did not get any reports of any incidents,” said San Fernando Mayor Robert Parris.
Parris said Little was well known in San Fernando, especially around Carnival time, as he was considered an icon in the southern city and was also part of the Joey Lewis band.
While the accident caused a delay in the movement of the bands, Parris said, “We would have to continue with the Carnival because persons would have prepared ... but they never prepared for a tragedy like this.”
Parris said he contacted Acting Prime Minister Stuart Young to let him know what happened.
Shortly after the incident, members of Jammerz International said they were uncertain if they would be on the road Carnival Tuesday (today) after Little’s tragic death.
Assistant Commissioner of Police Wayne Mystar in charge of the Southern and South Western Divisions said the driver is assisting police with their investigations. He said the driver indicated that the brakes on the truck didn’t work when he was going down the incline.
He said the truck met all the requirements and would have been given a pass to be on the road for Carnival.
However, he said the truck had been impounded and Licensing officers would be conducting further checks to determine what went wrong.
He added, “We are urging masqueraders, band members, the organisers of those trucks to ensure that those safety protocols are maintained.”
Several revellers and spectators gathered at the scene and expressed shock and sadness over the incident.
Eyewitness Teresa Fabian said, “I was sitting by the police booth and I saw the music truck going down Cipero Street and Little was holding the banner in front. He and another one. They said the brakes cut and the truck just passed over him. He was just gasping on the ground and he died right there.”
One visitor from Canada was upset by the incident, “This is nonsense. I saw him walking with the banner just a few minutes ago and to hear this happened. This is some bull.”
Although Little’s body was removed just after 5 pm, up to 6 pm no Carnival band had passed along Cipero Street. Sixteen bands were registered with the San Fernando Carnival Committee to participate in the Parade of Bands on Monday and Tuesday.