A 22-year old New Amsterdam Technical Institute student is in a critical condition after he collided with a cow while riding along the public road in the area during the wee hours of yesterday.

Rondell Simmons’ relatives told this newspaper at the Georgetown Public Hospital (GPH) that Simmons was returning to his home at the Bermine Housing Scheme from a social event when he rode into the path of a cow. His father, Mark Fraser, told Stabroek News that his son sustained serious injuries following the accident, including to his head and neck, while his right arm was broken in two places.

He said another of his sons was informed of the accident early yesterday morning and the family immediately travelled to the New Amsterdam hospital where Simmons was being treated for his injuries. Fraser said the extent of his son’s injuries forced hospital staff to transfer him to the GPH, around 10 am yesterday.

Fraser and a large number of relatives who gathered at the GPH were not impressed with the treatment the family received at the medical institution in the City yesterday, as one of the man’s aunts called on the hospital administration to “consider making changes to the workers’ attitude”.

She said the porters were told by staff of the Accident and Emergency Unit of the hospital to “urgently” place Simmons in an ambulance for him to undergo a CT scan at another medical institution in the city, and according to her the porters stated that they were on their lunch break.

She said family members then made arrangements, and after a while Simmons was placed in the ambulance as other relatives began to arrive at the hospital.

Late yesterday afternoon he was admitted to the Intensive Care Unit of the GPH and his relatives were hoping for the best.

Meanwhile, a Beterverwagting, East Coast Demerera man, said to be in his 20s, was rushed by public-spirited to the GPH yesterday after he collided with a car while crossing the railway embankment on a motor scooter, several corners from his home. The man sustained a gaping wound to his right shoulder, and according to a hospital source, his shoulder muscles were “severely damaged”.

The man’s relatives declined to give his name or to state the circumstances surrounding the accident, but according to persons who assisted in taking the man to the medical institution, “he jump the major road and slam into the car” shortly after lunch yesterday.

The man was said to be unlicensed and was not wearing a helmet at the time of the accident.

The driver of the car was yesterday afternoon in custody at the Beterverwagting Police Station.