Relative of prison officer killed in crash: 'The good die young'

The widow of the prison officer who was knocked down on July 28 and killed said his unfortunate death was the result of his helpful nature.

Mahendra Ramdial, 27, of Calcutta Road No 2, Balmain Village, Couva, was killed on July 28 when he stopped at the side of the highway to help two drivers who had been involved in an accident.

Ramdial was on his way home from work at the Caura Hospital, where he was guarding a prisoner.

The crash happened around 6.35 am on the southbound lane of the Solomon Hochoy Highway, near Massy Food Store.

Moments earlier, he had stopped on the shoulder to offer help after what police said was a trivial accident in the median. He got out of his car and was walking towards the drivers.

At the same time, a white BT 50 van was heading along the highway and the driver tried to avoid debris from the accident. The driver lost control and crashed into Ramdial and a lamppost.

Ramdial died on the spot and the driver was taken for medical care.

Speaking at the Forensic Science Centre, St James, on July 29, his widow, Sharece Ramroop-Ramdial, described her husband as loving, caring and extremely helpful.

"Anyone in need, even if we're on the road and someone has a flat tyre or someone needs any sort of assistance he will stop. That's just the type of person he was."

She said he was loved by everyone because of his personality.

Holding back tears, Ramroop-Ramdial said she and her husband had not been married for long.

"Unfortunately, we only had less than a year being married together, but what I could say was, it was the best period of my life.

"I had no issues with him, he treated me the best."

She wants her husband to be remembered for the type of person he was.

"I think he carried out his duty to his last – as he was proud and passionate about his job.

"He served his duty well, and as a wife that made me proud."

She said her husband was a reminder that there is "kindness and compassion in the world and it's not a totally cruel place."

A male relative who did not want to be named said Ramdial's nature was to go beyond the call to help.

"If I have an issue and I call him, he would assist immediately. He had that goodness in his heart and it also touched all those who were around him"

He said Ramdial was hard-working, ambitious and very popular among his friends.

"I have never heard anyone speak ill of him. Neither have I heard he did something that was questionable or contrary to his integrity and to what he knows is right from wrong.

"The good die young."

On July 28, Newsday visited the family's home, where scores of people had gathered.

Ramdial's aunt Reshma Ramnath told Newsday he and his wife would have celebrated their first wedding anniversary next month.

She said he joined the prison service four years ago and loved to help people.

"We do not know who he stopped to help. He was a very helpful person. Even if he was not feeling well, he would help others," Ramnath said.

Ramdial's was the second recent death in the family. Ramnath said six months ago, her sister Savitri Ramnath died of natural causes.

"She took care of him since he was a child. She lived here too," Ramnath said.

With reporting by Kris-Ann Durity