20-Year-Old Sanitization Worker Crushed To Death By Reversing Garbage Truck
UPDATE 4: Family members, friends and loved ones gathered today (Saturday 30th May, 2026) to say their final goodbye to 20-year-old Deshawn Joseph. The funeral service was held at Spring Vale, Claxton Bay, near Ben's Straightening and Painting Garage, where mourners braved the wet weather to pay their respects.
Joseph's father renewed his call for justice in the matter, refuting claims it was a tragic accident.
UPDATE 3: Prime Minister the Honourable Kamla Persad-Bissessar, SC, MP, has issued the following statement regarding the tragic death of Deshawn Joseph:
REST IN PEACE, DESHAWN
I wish to express my sincere condolences to the loved ones of 19-year-old Deshawn Joseph, who tragically lost his life in a freak accident on Tuesday night.
Deshawn was crushed beneath a garbage truck while carrying out his duties as a sanitation worker in Kelly Village, Caroni.
He leaves behind a grieving family, including his girlfriend who is four (4) months’ pregnant with their child.
It is truly heartbreaking that a young man went out to earn an honest living to care for his family and never returned home.
May his soul rest in eternal peace, and may God grant strength, comfort and healing to his loved ones during this painful time of grief.
UPDATE 2: The driver of the garbage truck insisted the incident was an accident. He said he had been working with Joseph for about seven (7) months and that Joseph was not supposed to jump off the truck while it was moving. He added there was no way he could have known Joseph was at the back of the truck.
However, a Police source has indicated that the driver could face charges arising out of the fatal incident.
UPDATE: The family of Deshawn Joseph believes his death was caused by carelessness on the part of the garbage truck driver. Speaking to reporters at his Claxton Bay home on Thursday (28th May, 2026), Joseph's father, Shawn Blackburn, said “I want justice for my son.” He had just returned from viewing his son's body at the Forensic Science Centre in Port-of-Spain.
Joseph's father said his focus at this time is burying his son. “My son was the best thing. Ask anybody in the village about my son. He never fight with nobody. He never cuss with nobody,” he said, adding that his son was never involved in any trouble with anyone.
Joseph's twin sister, Shenice, described her brother as a loving, joyful and caring person. She said he was excited about becoming a father and had been saving money in preparation for the baby.
She said she hoped the incident would serve as a lesson for employers in the industry to put proper health and safety measures in place to ensure workers are protected and to help prevent workplace accidents. “This is devastating for all of us,” she said, as she wiped away tears.
EDITOR’S NOTE: The headline and body of this article have been updated with new details.
A young sanitization worker is dead following a tragic accident while collecting garbage last night (Tuesday 26th May, 2026). The deceased has been identified as 20-year-old Deshawn Joseph of Claxton Bay. He leaves behind a girlfriend who is reportedly four (4) months’ pregnant.
Joseph, who was employed by a sanitation company in Claxton Bay for about two (2) years, was crushed to death by a reversing garbage truck.
According to reports, Joseph was working on the garbage truck, when he jumped off the moving vehicle along Ragoonath Street, Kelly Village, Caroni, and ran a short distance to retrieve a bag of garbage at the side of the street, around 9:12 PM. However, seconds later, the truck reportedly came into contact with the teenager, pulling him beneath the vehicle where he was crushed to death.
CCTV footage captured the horrifying moment he was fatally injured:
Joseph’s sudden death has left family members devastated. Relatives had earlier demanded answers after they were allegedly given conflicting versions of the events that led to his death.
The CCTV footage, which was later sent to relatives, now appears to provide clarity on exactly how he died.
A Police source has revealed that the driver of the garbage truck could face charges arising out of the tragedy.
Investigations are continuing into the circumstances surrounding the accident by Officers assigned to the Caroni Police Station.
More on this as it becomes available.
[Source: Ian Alleyne]
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