One person died and seven others were injured after the driver of a Route 42 minibus BSS 9471 travelling to Georgetown lost control and smashed into a utility pole at Little Diamond Public Road, East Bank Demerara around 17:45 hrs yesterday.
Dead is Lynette Joseph, a security guard of National Hardware who died on her way to the Diamond Diagnostic Centre. Injured are Joylyn Barker of 244 Second Street, Grove, East Bank Demerara (EBD), conductor, Mark Benjamin, 25, driver, Travis David, 28; along with four others.
The minibus was said to be transporting eight persons including the driver and conductor when the accident occurred.
Stabroek News understands that the driver of the minibus was heading to Georgetown when it made contact with another resulting in him losing control and smashing into the utility pole which was located on the right hand side of the road.
According to the husband of the injured Barker, Brian Barker, he had just arrived home from work when he received a call from his daughter saying that Joylyn was involved in an accident. He added with that information he immediately rushed to the hospital where he moments after visited her while she was receiving treatment.
“I would just say her condition seems to be stable at the moment and I didn’t bother to question her any further since I didn’t want to traumatize her”, David said during his brief comment.
The mother of Benjamin, who was also present at the hospital said that he is doing quite well since luckily he only received a few bruises about his body.
Stabroek News also understands that David sustained broken legs. However, attempts to contact his relatives to confirm this prove futile.
The other injured persons were also patients at the hospital and were receiving treatment when Stabroek News visited. A source said they are all doing well and had suffered only minor injuries.
The police today issued the following press release:
Investigations are being conducted into a fatal accident that occurred at about 1750h. yesterday Tuesday January 06, 2015, at Little Diamond Public Road, EBD, and which resulted in the death of Yvette Stoll-Joseph, 51 years, of Golden Grove, ECD.
Investigations have revealed that Yvette Stoll-Joseph was a passenger in a mini-bus being driven by Travis David, 27 years, of Agricola, allegedly at a fast rate, when the driver lost control of the vehicle and collided with a utility pole.
Yvette Stoll-Joseph, Travis David and three other passengers received injuries and were taken to the Diamond Diagnostic Centre, EBD, where Yvette Stoll-Joseph was pronounced DOA.
Travis David and two other passengers were treated and sent away, while Oswin Tappin, 59 years, of Zeskenderen, Mahaicony, ECD, has been admitted to the GPHC.
The driver is in police custody assisting with the investigations.
