A truck driver yesterday appeared in a city court charged with causing the death of teenager Dustin Crawford, who was killed in a hit and run along Flour Mill Public Road, East Bank Demerara on Wednesday.
Greg Stewart, 40, of Lot 707 Kaneville, Grove, and a driver at Massy Gas Products Guyana Limited for the past 20 years, also faced charges that he failed to stop after the accident and that he failed to render assistance to the injured Crawford after the accident.
He denied all the charges when he appeared before Magistrate Ann McLennan at the Georgetown Magistrate’s Court 2.
It is alleged that on July 22nd, at Flour Mill Public Road, Stewart drove motor lorry GJJ 7168 with trailer TAA 2203 in a manner dangerous to the public, thereby causing the death of Crawford.
When he was struck, Crawford, a 19-year-old rugby player, was on his way to the Namilco Flour Mill, where rugby players were about to tour the facility as part of an annual summer programme.
According to Prosecutor Deniro Jones, on the day of the accident Stewart was driving at a fast rate and as he turned onto Flour Mill Public Road the vehicle trailer hit Crawford, who pitched up into the air and then fell on the road.
Jones added that after Crawford was struck, Stewart continued to drive the vehicle and one of the wheels ran over Crawford’s head. Additionally, he informed the court that an eyewitness was able to identify the driver, despite the fact that Stewart escaped after the accident. He was later apprehended after the eyewitness, who later called the police, gave chase. Jones described the entire accident as an act of “cruelty” and he objected to bail given the nature and gravity of the charges against Stewart. The court heard that Crawford died as a result of multiple crush injuries.
However, Stewart’s attorney challenged Jones’ account of the accident and argued that his client was not involved. He said at the time of the accident, Stewart was turning onto a side street, which is some 12 to 15 feet wide and he could not have been travelling more than a maximum speed of five miles per hour. He further argued that it is not a case where Stewart was speeding or under the influence of alcohol.
Additionally, the attorney explained that Stewart was driving a heavy duty vehicle and if it had run over the deceased, as the prosecutor claimed, there would have been external injuries shown on Crawford’s body or there would have been bloodstains or damages on the vehicle.
The lawyer said Stewart was not the one involved in the accident and pressed for bail, while saying he is not a flight risk and would return to court if granted his pre-trial liberty.
After lengthy proceedings that were witnessed by angry relatives of the deceased, the magistrates refused bail and ordered Stewart to return to court on August 12th.
