The bus driver, who fled after the accident along the Bengal Public Road, Corentyne, that claimed the life of a 16-year-old student on Thursday night, has surrendered to police.
The driver had fled the scene immediately after the accident that claimed the life of Nirvan Baichu, of Crabwood Creek, who had been one the passengers in the Route 63 bus, which carried licence plate BPP 2259.
Stabroek News was told that the driver turned himself in yesterday afternoon at the Number 51 Village Police Station. This newspaper was also told that the owner of the vehicle was taken into custody as well.
Witnesses said the accident occurred after the bus driver attempted to overtake a car that was also travelling south towards Skeldon and clipped the rear of the vehicle. As a result, the bus driver lost control and the bus toppled several times. During one of the flips, Baichu was said to have been pitched out of the vehicle and he landed on the roadway.
Vimi Bandoo, a University of Guyana student who was travelling home in the car that was clipped by the bus, told Stabroek News that her husband, who was driving, had been proceeding with caution because of the presence of animals on the road.
Bandoo said she suddenly heard “swoosh” and immediately their car was left spinning. She said that the car eventually came to a halt after slamming into a parked truck on the road side. She stated that because of the speed at which her husband had been proceeding, he was able to maintain some control over the vehicle, thereby preventing serious damage to the vehicle and harm to them.
Moments later, Bandoo said, she heard screaming a short distance away from where their vehicle had stopped. According to the eyewitness, when she checked she saw the bus parked sideways next to the fence as public-spirted persons rushed to rescue the students who were trapped inside.
Baichu, who was unconscious, and other injured students were picked up and taken to the Port Mourant Hospital for medical attention. Baichu was pronounced dead on arrival at the hospital.
Meanwhile, some of the injured students were treated and sent home, while others were referred to the New Amsterdam Hospital, where they were admitted as patients. Among the injured are Sabrina James and another identified as Vinetta (only name given), who are both students of the Skeldon Lutheran Secondary School.
The group of students was travelling home from the Children’s Mashramani Costume Competition that was held earlier in the day at Albion Sports Complex.
