The two minibus drivers accused of causing the deaths of brothers Shemon West and Shalum Allen have each been released on $200,000 station bail as the police await legal advice on possible charges against them.
A police source told Sunday Stabroek yesterday that the case file has been dispatched to the Chambers of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) for legal advice.
In the meantime, the source said the drivers, as part of the condition for their release on bail, are required to report to the police every Monday until recommendations on the way forward are received from the DPP.
West, 28, a labourer attached to the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission and Allen, called ‘Bigga,’ 19, both of Lots 8-9 Fellowship, West Coast Demerara, lost their lives last Tuesday after they were struck by minibuses BVV 8882 and BVV 7042 along the Den Amstel Public Road, near the Den Amstel Police Station.
At the time of the accident, which occurred around 11.20 am, the two brothers were returning home after purchasing driver’s licence packages.
West, who was towing Allen on a bicycle, reportedly died on the spot, while Allen was pronounced dead on arrival at the Leonora Cottage Hospital.
They both sustained massive head injuries.
Following the accident, both drivers were taken into custody.
In a press statement, the police said minibus BVV 8882, which was proceeding east along the northern lane of the public road, stopped to put off passengers, while West and Allen were approaching from behind.
It added that as West was passing the bus, it suddenly drove off and the vehicle hit the left handle bar of the bicycle.
As a result of the impact, the brothers fell onto the southern carriageway of the road and were struck by minibus BVV 7042, which was proceeding in the opposite direction.
Seon Moses, the dead men eldest brother had denounced the manner in which his brothers lost their lives and he specifically noted the negligence of the driver of BVV 7042 when negotiating the turn before the location where he hit the men.
Moses had related to Stabroek News that he believed that if the driver had exercised some amount of caution, at least one of his brothers could have been saved. “I don’t know at what point in time Shalum would have got into contact with 7042… From the looks of it, 8882 was not looking in his rear mirror to see if any vehicle was behind him… while 7042 was approaching a turn, a dead turn too, and if he was not speeding he would have been able to make some sort of adjustment for persons who were on the road,” he had explained.
He however, noted while the driver of minibus BVV 7042 is not being completely blamed, it is clear that his negligence has contributed to at least one of the deaths.
