Commissioner of Police Leslie James escaped unhurt yesterday afternoon after the force vehicle transporting him collided with a truck along the Covent Garden Public Road, on the East Bank of Demerara.
Other parties involved in the collision were not as fortunate and at least two men suffered broken legs and are now hospitalised.
The accident occurred around 2.45 pm while James and personal assistant, Superintendent Allistair Roberts, were being transported in a force jeep, bearing licence plate PSS 4796 and driven by Corporal Mark Smith
Police said the other vehicle involved in the initial collision was a canter truck, GWW 9079, owned and driven by Basdeo Lalchan, 37, with passenger Jonathan Ramkellawan, 24, aboard.
Information reaching this newspaper revealed that the accident occurred after the driver of the canter truck allegedly failed to acknowledge the force vehicle’s siren.
Police, in a statement last night, said enquiries disclosed that the jeep was proceeding north along the western side of the western carriageway of the road with its beacon light and siren on, while truck was proceeding in front in the same direction.
It added that as the jeep approached, the truck swerved from east to west and stopped. As a result, the jeep collided with it. The police added that the truck subsequently collided with another truck and the jeep collided with the rear of another vehicle that parked on the western side of the road.
As a result, Superintendent Roberts, Lalchan and Ramkellawan received injured about their bodies. Lalchan and Ramkellawan were taken to the Diamond Diagnostic Centre, where they were treated before being referred to the Georgetown Public Hospital and admitted as patients with broken legs. Roberts was taken to the St. Joseph Mercy Hospital, where he was seen and examined by a doctor on duty and admitted due to injuries to his left shoulder.
Police noted that while enquiries are in progress, a breathalyser test was conducted on Corporal Smith and no alcohol was found in his breath.
At the time of the accident, James, who was seated in the back seat of the force vehicle, was being transported from the Cheddi Jagan International Airport, Timehri, where he touched down earlier after returning from overseas duties.
