A former national footballer died after he was run over by a minibus on D’Urban Street, early on Christmas morning.
Selwyn Bailey, 51, of Lot 7, D’Urban Street, Lodge, was standing on the pavement along the road when he was struck by a Route 41 (Stabroek-South) bus, BJJ 4851.
He was taken to the Georgetown Hospital for treatment but succumbed while receiving medical attention. The driver of the bus was taken into police custody to aid investigations.
In a statement, police said the accident occurred at around 2:40 am. Police investigations revealed that the bus was allegedly being driven at a fast rate along the wet road when the driver lost control of the vehicle, struck Bailey and ended up in a trench.
Reports from the area indicated that Bailey had been standing on the pavement on the northern side of the road, a short distance from the junction of D’Urban and Chapel streets where he has a roadside stand. He was facing west as the bus was approaching from the east. Persons in the area said that the bus careened across the street and pitched him into the gutter.
The bus did not stop, however, grazing the utility poles at the side of the road while uprooting rubbish bins in its path from the pavement. The bus eventually came to rest in the gutter near the junction. Bailey’s neck was said to have been broken.
A black flag was flying from the top of Bailey’s stand yesterday and members of his family were in deep mourning.
His sister-in-law, Cheryl Yearwood said Bailey had been preparing to celebrate his step daughter’s engagement. He had returned home from the market but left to deliver something for somebody.
The family later received a report that a bus ran off the road and ran him down but by the time they got to the scene he had been taken to the hospital.
Bailey played for the Santos Football Club and he had represented Guyana overseas.
He was still an active footballer and competed in veterans’ matches. He was a father of three.
