[UPDATED] Truck driver killed by exploding tyre

A man was killed in Sangre Grande on Monday when one of his truck’s tyres exploded.

Around 9 am, Rakesh Ramnarine stopped along the Eastern Main Road to repair a damaged line on his truck.

An eyewitness said he ventured into a nearby store, Satyavi's Hardware & Electronics to ask for a screwdriver.

Store owner Hemant Joseph said Ramnarine left the store and five minutes later, an explosion was heard.

Video footage from the store showed Ramnarine reaching under the truck, between two of the rear tyres, when there was an explosion.

Joseph told Newsday when the smoke cleared, the truck’s tyre was shredded and Ramnarine was found lying between the truck and the pavement.

Ramnarine, he said, was alive and breathing but appeared to have suffered internal injuries.

“His jaw was damaged and he was bleeding from his mouth but you weren’t seeing any (other) physical injuries,” said Joseph.

Police arrived within minutes and secured the area and an ambulance was called.

After 20 minutes had passed and the ambulance failed to arrive, an on-looker volunteered to use his truck to transport Ramnarine to the hospital.

Passers-by, with the help of the police, loaded him onto the back of the truck and took him to the hospital.

Ramnarine was pronounced dead at the hospital.

Joseph said the truck was eventually moved to the nearby Sangre Grande Police Station where it remained up to Monday afternoon.

This story has been adjusted to include additional details. See original post below.

A man was killed in Sangre Grande this morning when one of his truck’s tyres exploded.

Around 9 am, Rakesh Ramnarine stopped on the Eastern Main Road to repair a damaged line on his truck.

Video footage from a nearby business showed Ramnarine reaching between two tyres when there was an explosion.

An eyewitness said when the smoke cleared Ramnarine was found lying between the truck and the pavement.

A passer-by took Ramnarine to the hospital, where he was pronounced dead.