Ephraim Parris, one of the survivors of Saturday’s accident along the Mabura Trail which claimed the life of one, remains in a critical condition at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) while the others are slowly recovering.
Parris, the driver of the ill-fated route 72 bus which collided head on with a pick-up early on Saturday morning along the Mabura Trail, was on his way to Linden with a busload of passengers. The accident claimed the life businessman Diaz Trotz, son of acting Commander of C division Senior Superintendent Owen Trotz.
Up to yesterday afternoon when Stabroek News visited the GPHC medical personnel said that Ephraim Parris was a patient in the High Dependency Unit (HDU) in a critical state. It was reported that he continues to lapse in and out of consciousness.
Stabroek News understands Anthony Harris and Leroy Floyd are in a stable condition in the Male Medical ward of the GPHC.
Admitted to the LHC with head and neck injuries were the driver of the pick-up truck Elon Newton, 18, of Soesdyke, and Latoya Blake, 19, of Block 22 Wismar, Linden.
Treated and sent home were passenger of the pick-up Jamil Parris, 21, of Linden, and bus passengers Michael Gilkes and Ezzard Anthony, 29, of Charity, Essequibo.
Eyewitness told Stabroek News that the accident took place on a blind turn at 58 Miles Mabura Road some time between the hours of 5am and 7am on Saturday.
Recounting the details of the collision, Jamil Parris, the passenger in the pick-up said that they had just left the 58 Miles gas station where they purchased breakfast and refuelled and began journeying to Konawaruk when the accident happened. He said “Just as we reach de top of de hill and teking the turn, all I hear he [Elon Newton] saying ‘look deh, look deh’ and he start pulling for de corner.” The two vehicles however collided. “De bus spin and face back where he de coming from“said Parris.
Another survivor Elon Newton, driver of the pick-up, told a similar story adding that though injured, he had jumped out of his vehicle and rushed to the minibus because he realized it was in a serious state: “Fat man [Trotz] pitch through the front windscreen and left hanging on de front of the bus.” Newton said he assisted in lifting the 27-year-old before rushing to the aid of the driver and other passengers.
When Stabroek News visited the Lot 126 New Road Vreed en Hoop, home of the dead man yesterday, his father, visibly shaken, was making funeral arrangements to have the young man laid to rest on Thursday. He said that Diaz, the eldest of his two children owned an entertainment spot in Mahdia and was returning home to his family when he was killed.
Diaz’s wife Alisha Trotz said that she had spoken to him earlier and was looking forward to his return home but that was not to be as she had received a call informing her that he was in an accident instead. She said that she is still trying to come to grips with his death. He is survived by three children ranging in ages from three to six.
The driver of the pick-up remains under police guard at the LHC as police investigate.
