Tecona Welcome, who was driving the car that crashed into the Liliendaal Bridge on Saturday night, resulting in the death of her friend, was yesterday charged with driving under the influence and released on $20,000 bail after professing her innocence.
Welcome, 27, of 391 Austin Street, Campbellville, Georgetown, pleaded not guilty to a charge which stated that on June 24, at Liliendaal Railway Embankment, East Coast Demerara, she drove PSS 7195 while her breath alcohol level exceeded the legal limit.
According to Commander of ‘C’ Division Calvin Brutus, Welcome, who appeared before Magistrate Alicia George, was released on $20,000 bail and the matter was adjourned until August 4.
Brutus explained that Welcome was not charged with causing the death of passenger Debra Pompey, 36, of 473 Belle West Housing Scheme, Canal Number 2 Polder, West Bank Demerara, since the police file was incomplete.
Brutus added that a post-mortem examination was conducted yesterday on the remains of Pompey, who was sitting in the front passenger seat of the car. It gave her cause of death as being due to multiple injuries related to a motor car accident. He also informed this newspaper that in light of the autopsy report, the police will send its file to the office of the Director of Public Prosecutions for advice on further charges.
The incident also resulted in injuries to four other passengers in the vehicle—Rodlyn Grace, 20, of 24 Blygezight Gardens; Shameica Martin, 18, of 84 Sideline Dam, Beterverwagting, East Coast Demerara; Tushana Hubbard, 26, of 473 Belle West Housing Scheme, Canal Number 2 Polder, West Bank Demerara; and Saskiya Boyer, 30, of Lodge, Georgetown. They were all admitted as patients of the Georgetown Public Hospital (GPH) after the crash.
The women remained hospitalised yesterday.
Coreen Grace, the mother of Rodlyn, told Stabroek News that doctors told her that her daughter sustained three fractured ribs.
She added that Rodlyn has undergone one surgery and is scheduled for anothe
r one soon.
Martin and Hubbard are recovering in the female surgical ward of the GPH. Martin sustained lacerations about her body. A hospital source said Boyer, who was also in a stable condition, was transferred to a private hospital.
Welcome sustained a fractured left arm.
According to a police statement, the fatal incident occurred around 11.40 pm on Saturday. Police said PSS 7195 was proceeding west along the southern carriageway at a fast rate when it collided with the southern rail of the Liliendaal Bridge.
The women, who had just left the Giftland Mall after a bridal shower, were said to be making their way to a bar in town when the accident occurred.
