The driver of the minibus that was involved in the accident on Aubrey Barker Road last November, resulting in the death of a North Ruimveldt man, was granted bail in the sum of $300,000 when he appeared before Acting Chief Magistrate Melissa Robertson yesterday at the Georgetown Magistrate’s Court.
Fifty-nine-year-old Terrence Gittens of Laing Avenue pleaded not guilty to the charge of causing death by dangerous driving.
It is alleged that on November 25 last year, Gittens drove motor bus PKK2259 in a dangerous manner which resulted in the death of 47-year-old Ivelaw Christian.
However, Gittens stated that on the day in question he was proceeding south from Mandela Avenue into David Rose Street when at the junction of Aubrey Barker and David Rose Street he observed Christian, who was on a motor cycle, speeding east along Aubrey Barker road.
He said that he immediately applied brakes but he collided with Christian who hit the front left side of the bus. He said that Christian’s motor cycle then skidded along the road and eventually crashed into a light pole.
Meanwhile, Prosecutor Denise Griffith stated that Christian was proceeding east along Aubrey Barker Road when Gittens who was on Mandela Avenue proceeding into David Rose Street failed to stop at Aubrey Baker Road and collided with Christian. Christian along with several other passengers in Gittens’ bus were rushed to the hospital but Christian succumbed to his injuries four days later, while the others were treated and sent away.
The magistrate subsequently granted Gittens bail and transferred the case to Court 7 for April 13.
However, according to reports, Christian’s son, Collin Garraway, of 3731 North Ruimveldt was also a victim of the accident but he was treated at the Georgetown Public Hospital for a broken arm and sent away while Christian of 2461 Soufriere Street, North Ruimveldt, was sent for emergency surgery and was later admitted to the Intensive Care Unit of the hospital where he succumbed four days later.