BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – A Nevisian male died today (Mar. 16) at the Deep Water Harbour in Bird Rock following an industrial accident.
Dead is 51-year-old Evans ‘Busy’ Bartlette of Gingerland, Nevis who, according to a press release from the St. Christopher Air and Sea Port Authority, was on board the MV Lady Mignonne when the tragic incident occurred.
“This happened at the roll-on roll-off facility at the deep Water Harbour, where the boat was docked and receiving cargo. SCASPA understands that the incident involved an independent trucker who was at the time loading cargo bound for Nevis when a worker on the vessel suffered fatal injuries. SCASPA is working with the authorities to ascertain the exact circumstance that resulted in this tragedy,” the release states.
On arrival at the Harbour, SKNVibes learned that Bartlette was an employee of the cargo vessel which regularly plies between St. Kitts and Nevis, and that the accident occurred at approximately 12:45 p.m.
“While the truck was reversing onto the vessel, a man was directing the driver and Busy walked behind the truck to speak to him. When they finished their conversation, Busy was walking behind the truck again and he was crushed by the truck and some concrete blocks that were on the vessel. I don’t think that the driver of the truck had seen him, but it’s a very unfortunate incident and he should have exercised caution. I however am in sympathy with the bereaved family members and would like to offer them my deepest condolences,” said a source close to the vessel’s crew.
According to Police Press and Public Relations Officer Inspector Vaughan Henderson, officers at the Basseterre Police Station received a report of an industrial accident at the Deep Harbour and members of the Traffic Department and the Criminal Investigation Department responded immediately.
Henderson said the District Medical Officer had pronounced Bartlette dead at the scene and the Coroner, who was informed of the accident, gave permission for the body to be removed to a funeral home under police escort.
“The investigators have informed me that more details into the exact circumstances would be available as the facts become known,” Henderson added.
While at the entrance to the Deep Water Harbour, this media house had observed a number of Bartlette’s relatives, including his nephew and a niece who fainted and fell to the ground on seeing the body being taken away by Jenkins Funeral Home.
