A head-on collision last night on Carifesta Avenue claimed the lives of three persons including a Guyana Defence Force (GDF) sergeant and his wife.
Dead are Stacy Amanda Pyle, 26, a nurse attached to the Davis Memorial Hospital and her husband, Robert Pyle, both of Paradise, East Coast Demerara (ECD). The other victim, was identified as Linden Eastman of Prashad Nagar, a truck driver who operates in front of Courts’, Main Street branch.
The accident occurred around 9:30 PM on Carifesta Avenue, Georgetown, opposite the National Service Ground. Reports revealed that the motor car PRR 9118 was heading east along Carifesta Avenue at a fast rate of speed when it attempted to overtake resulting in a collision with Canter GSS 8563 which was heading west. Lane intrusion at high speed is a frequent occurrence on Carifesta Avenue at all hours of the day and there are very few police patrols in this area.
When Stabroek News arrived on the scene, a large crowd had gathered to get a glimpse of what had transpired while there was a build-up of traffic. Robert Pyle, who was driving the car was rushed to the hospital and died less than one hour after while the other two victims died on the spot. They were both pinned in their vehicles. The Guyana Fire Service had to be summoned to help free the bodies from the vehicles.
According to an eyewitness who was proceeding east along the road at the time of the accident, three vehicles; a red Toyota Surf, a silver Toyota Allex and a white Toyota Premio, (driven by Robert Pyle) were all travelling at a fast rate.
The man related, “I driving and all of a sudden the two vehicles, the Allex on the left and the Premio on the right drive pass me fast”. He estimated that the vehicles overtook him at the same time traveling about 120 Kmph. “I was already traveling lil fast but then these two vehicles just speed past me,” he said.
The man added that several seconds after the two vehicles flew by he heard a loud, explosive like impact. “After we hear the big noise we see debris flying all over and the Premio and the Canter skating,” he added.
The Toyota Premio was driving on the outside lane at a fast rate and was overtaking all the vehicles ahead and entered the right lane where the Canter was motoring.
“The Canter was driving fast and the Premio was driving fast, but you see neither of them couldn’t go anywhere and they both tried to swerve in the same direction,” the eyewitness said, stating that after the two vehicles noticed each other, the Premio tried to swerve right to avoid the canter but it was impossible and they collided.
Some persons at the scene reported to Stabroek News that the three vehicles that were supposedly racing all had their hazard lights on and after the crash, the Toyota Surf raced off and the driver of the Toyota Allex stopped and rushed the driver of the Premio to the hospital. Some also said that someone broke and removed the number plates from the wrecked Toyota Premio.
At the hospital late last night, relatives of Robert and Stacy including her mother Desrey (only name given) gathered to identify their remains.
Desrey broke down in tears as she related when she last heard from her daughter. “Ow meh daughter how you go do me this, I just talk to you and you tell me that you coming home just now”, were the words she continuously uttered.
According to Robert’s brother, Roger Pyle, his brother left home after he received a call from his office requesting that he report for duty. Roger is of the belief that it was after his brother reported to his office and picked up Stacy from the hospital that tragedy struck while on their way home.
Stacy and Robert leave to mourn two children.
