The Guyana Police Force has taken some responsibility for last Friday’s fatal crash involving a lorry and a minibus along the Linden-Soesdyke Highway in which two persons died, admitting that there was a lapse in Standard Operating Procedures (SOP).
Acting Commissioner of Police David Ramnarine said at a press conference yesterday, “I must admit there was an error made, an error made in terms of much needed enforcement by us, the Guyana Police Force.” He said ranks in the area were unable to perform their regular patrol duties last Friday owing to other demands.
He said the breach in the SOP regarded lorries transporting logs at certain times along the highway and it was an unfortunate lapse, because that is being enforced all the time. In essence, the lorry should not have been on the highway at that time.
Two persons, Bridget Alleyne called ‘Sister Cash,’ 58, of Lot 101 Barclay Street, Goed Fortuin, West Bank Demerara and Royston Holder were killed when the minibus they were in crashed into the log-laden lorry. The Acting Commissioner said the lorry driver was at fault, while noting that the error in judgement of the driver the minibus was a really huge one.
The police had said in a press release that enquiries into the accident had revealed that motor lorry GMM 6461, transporting logs, was proceeding west along the highway, when minibus, BVV 3782 which was travelling behind crashed into the rear of the lorry in the vicinity of Moblissa.
Stabroek News had previously reported that the Route 72 minibus was heading to the city when the lights from an oncoming vehicle reportedly blinded the driver, causing him to swerve and slam into the back of an unlit, parked, truck containing logs. The entire roof of the minibus was torn off in the collision.
The police said the drivers of both vehicles were given breathalyzer tests and no trace of alcohol was recorded.
The driver of the minibus, Peter Alleyne called ‘Brother Peter,’ who was Bridget’s husband, sustained minor injuries. They were all transported to the Mackenzie Hopsital where Bridget and Holder were pronounced dead on arrival. Rubyanna Alleyne, daughter of Peter and Bridget had related to this newspaper that at the time of the accident her parents was heading home. She said it was customary for her mother to accompany her father on trips and she would work as the conductress of the bus, whenever she was not busy.
