The victims of Tuesday’s smash-up on the Mahdia trail which left two dead are in stable conditions at the Georgetown Hospital.
Meanwhile a statement out of the Information Division of the Regional Democratic Council, Region 8, said that it is believed that alcohol consumption played a major role in the collision.
The statement said that according to reports the Route 72 minibus BKK 5912 was en route to Georgetown from Mahdia, heading in a southeastern direction, about a mile away from the Tumatumari Junction on a turn when Land Cruiser GJJ 7770 of the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) heading into Mahdia in a north western direction, slammed into the driver’s side of the minibus killing the minibus driver. According to reports, it said, “the Land Cruiser nested itself smugly in the front of the minibus in the driver’s side. A passing truck had to pull out the land cruiser from the bus to get out the driver and the front seat passenger”.
Following the accident, the victims were rushed to the Mahdia District Hospital, where all members of staff were called in to render “whatever initial treatment was necessary for the sustenance of life’, the statement said adding that two aircraft flew into the community to transfer the victim to the Georgetown Hospital though terrible weather conditions prevailed.
The statement added that Regional Chairman Senor Bell following the tragedy called on drivers to be very careful on the roads especially at a time when there is rainy weather.
“He thanked Air Services Limited for braving the weather to send in the Medivac. He recognizes that it took pilots of a special calibre to dare the weather conditions especially around the mountainous areas of a region such as Region 8”, it added.
According to reports mini-bus driver Roylyn Henry was driving the minibus when it collided with the GGMC Land Cruiser driven by Samuel Munroe.
Stabroek News was told that Henry had just booked in at the Mahdia Police Station with passengers some time before nine and was proceeding to the bridge crossing bound for Georgetown when the collision occurred.
Henry who was in and out of consciousness succumbed shortly after the crash. He reportedly sustained head injuries. Everad Providence, a Ministry of Works mechanic and resident of 240 Caneview Avenue, South Ruimveldt died at the Mahdia airstrip as he was waiting to board the aircraft bound for the city.
Munroe, the driver of the GGMC vehicle, sustained an injury to the left hand, while Wendy Williams, a Barima Avenue, Bel Air resident, had injuries to her leg and face. Brazilian Daniel Lopez sustained injuries to his right foot and hand; Andrew Duke, a Mahaicony miner, is nursing wounds to the right foot and waist; Donald Thomas of Lethem, injured his right foot and Delon Gomes, an overseas-based Guyanese sustained injuries to his face and foot.
