Just a day after new pick-ups were received by ‘B’ Division, a police officer yesterday afternoon crashed one of the vehicles during a bid to overtake a build-up of traffic along the Canefield Public Road.
The pick-up crashed into a car, which spun and ended up in the middle of the road, while the police vehicle landed in a nearby drain.
Stabroek News arrived at the scene seconds after the collision and observed occupants of both vehicles exiting. No one was seriously injured.
According to the driver of the car, Deonarine Gangapersaud, 42, he was “turning into a bridge” opposite Galaxy Street, in Canefield Village, East Canje, when the police vehicle, “coming with a speed,” overtook a sugar truck land then slammed into his car.
Gangapersaud noted that his wife and four-year-old son were present in the car at the time of the collision. He stressed that he was thankful that no one was injured.
Meanwhile, the driver of the police vehicle was taken to the New Amsterdam Public Hospital a short while after his colleagues arrived on the scene. At least two police officers were in the vehicle.
A source said, that the vehicle was heading to the Reliance Police Station. According to the source, the police vehicle sustained minor damage. It was noted that an investigation has since been launched.
Only on Wednesday, a simple ceremony was held at the Central Police Station, in New Amsterdam to officially announce that the division had received 10 new pick-ups, which were donated by the government of China.
At the ceremony Commander of ‘B’ Division, Lyndon Alves said, “We will try our utmost to upkeep these vehicles so it can better serve our nation.”
He had explained, that the vehicles would be distributed throughout the division. He said for the purpose of accountability, the vehicles would bear a marking indicating which station it is attached to along with the emergency number.
Alves also reiterated what was recently said by the Minister of Public Security Khemraj Ramjattan—that ranks responsible for damaging the vehicles will be “made to pay.”
He had also asked the public and the media to be watchdogs for the vehicles, while noting that under the present management in the division, recklessness would not be tolerated.
He also warned ranks to not use the vehicles for their personal use, such as to take a “wife, child, sweet boy or girl to the market.”
He assured those gathered, which included the Regional Chairman of Region Six David Armogan, Regional Executive Officer Kim Stephen and Regional Executive Officer of Region Five Ovid Morrison that the vehicles would be used “primarily for crime fighting to ensure we keep this division crime rate to a minimum.”
