Eight persons were injured during a late night accident on the Number 19, Corentyne Public Road yesterday.
According to information gathered, the persons were travelling from the New Amsterdam Public Hospital when they collided with a parked trailer along the Number 19 Public Road.
One child was last night rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital, with a suspected fractured skull and bleeding from her ears. While the other injured persons were admitted with broken hands and foot in the New Amsterdam Hospital
Dinesh Looknauth, of Topoo Village, Corentyne one of the passengers in the bus, who sustained a laceration on his head and hands told this publication that they brought a relative to the New Amsterdam Hospital and were proceeding home when the collision occurred.
The persons were all rushed to the New Amsterdam Public Hospital. Stabroek News was told, that the driver of the bus along with three other adults and three children were seriously injured.
“I really ain’t remember anything, we did going back and we slam,” Looknauth said
Meanwhile, other relatives of the injured persons told Stabroek News, that eleven persons were in the bus at the time of the accident; five adults and six children.
Further,, the driver of the bus BNN 9791 is said to have been intoxicated at the time of the accident.
Traffic Ranks from Central Police Station in New Amsterdam were seen waiting at the hospital to take statements from persons who were injured in the accident.
The Police today issued the following press release on the accident:
An intoxicated mini bus driver, 47 years and the driver of a motor lorry, 45 years are in police custody assisting with the investigation of a serious accident which occurred last evening on the No. 19 Public Road, East Coast Berbice, that resulted in five of eleven passengers of the mini bus being hospitalized; four at the New Amsterdam Public Hospital and one at the GPHC. They are said to be in serious but stable conditions.
Investigations revealed that motor lorry GLL 8559 with trailer TSS 458, was proceeding east along the northern carriageway, whilst mini bus BNN 9791 with the passengers, was in the rear, proceeding in the said direction, when it was alleged that the mini bus in attempting to overtake the lorry and trailer collided with the rear of the trailer which was said to be unlighted.
As a result of the impact, the passengers, all from Topoo, Albion, Corentyne, received injuries, whilst the driver of the mini bus and lorry were unhurt.
The passengers were rushed to the New Amsterdam Public Hospital where six of them were treated and sent away.
Treated and sent away
- Lilawattie Basdeo, 26 years
- Eshan Looknauth, 5 years
- Dinesh Looknauth, 22 years
- Yashi Looknauth, 3 years
- Fardeen Kiodeen, 3 years
- Chari Narine, 45 years
Admitted at New Amsterdam Hospital
- Shazar Kiodeen, 7 years
- Ryan Gorad, 10 years
- Beesham Kiodeen, 12 years
- Fizeea Kiodeen, 10 years,
Transferred to GPHC
- Mohamed Safraz, 44 years.
Breathalyzer tests were administered to both drivers and whilst the driver of the lorry who hails from Nigg Settlement, Corentyne, Berbice, was not found to have any alcohol in his breath, the driver of the mini bus was found to be above the legal limit.
