Man crushed by truck while changing tyre

The family of Brighton resident Cornelius Joseph is still trying to come to terms with his sudden passing.{{more}}

The 47-year-old tyre repairman died next to his job site in Campden Park on Tuesday, October 11, while attempting to remove a tyre from a cement mixer.

According to reports, Joseph, an employee of Eustace Auto Supplies, was working on the vehicle, which is estimated to weigh more than 20,000 pounds, when it slipped from its jack, rolled back about two feet, and pinned him to the ground.

Joseph’s mishap occurred next to his workplace, in a yard where vehicle repair work is conducted.

The yard is shared with workmen of Ruddy’s Electrical contractors.

At the time of the incident, two mechanics employed with Ruddy’s were also carrying out repair works.

One of the men, identified as ‘Charlo’ said that he had just exited the truck that he was working on, when he heard a loud noise behind him.

“When I look, I notice that the truck was rolling, so I try hold on ‘pon the truck because I know the guy was back there. When I look the truck was on the guy head.”

Charlo said that he took a heavy chain from a nearby vehicle and asked another man who came on the scene to attach the chain to his vehicle and pull it forward.

Once rescued from beneath the truck, Joseph was rushed to the Milton Cato Memorial Hospital where he was pronounced dead.

The following day, SEARCHLIGHT caught up with Joseph’s wife, mother and brother, who say that although they are shocked and saddened by his death, they are taking the loss in stride.

The family members said that they received calls just after 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday, informing them that Joseph, affectionately know as ‘Cornie’, had gotten into an accident and had died.

“We heard they say that he was fixing a tire and the truck rolled back on his head,” Joseph’s wife Juacintha explained.

“When we get to the hospital the guard said that he was already at the mortuary.”

Joseph, the father of two adult daughters as well as a 14-month-old grandson and a 6 month old granddaughter, was described as a soft spoken individual, who cared for others.

“He was a quiet, easy going person. He never been in any trouble. He was loving and always wanted to help anybody; he was always willing to assist,” Juacintha said of her husband of more that 20 years.

Eileen Joseph, the deceased’s mother, said that it may take some time to get over her son’s death, after already losing two other children in the past.

“The difference with Cornie is that he was not sick, the two others were sick. I don’t know when I would get over this shock.

Joseph’s death is not only an emotional burden for his family.

The staff at the Campden Park outlet of Eustace Auto Supplies were visbly shaken by the loss of their coworker of ten years; causing operations to close early on that day.

Employees of Ruddy’s Electrical were also visibly traumatized by the event, causing Charlo to reflect on life.

“I feel really bad. I feel it for him, because it could have been me that is why I went to help him.”

Up to press time a funeral date had not been determined, and police are investigating the matter.