A man changing a tyre, two passengers and a minibus driver were injured on Saturday evening as a result of an accident involving three vehicles along the Port Mourant Public Road, Corentyne, Berbice.
The driver of a hire car who is alleged to have caused the accident fled the scene but was later arrested by police.
According to a police report, those involved are Mahendra Mangal of Tain Village, Corentyne Berbice who was the driver of hire car #HC 9700, passenger of the car Doodnauth Pattiram also of Tain Village; Rahim Subratally, the driver of minibus #PHH 13 of Johanna, North Black Bush Polder, Corentyne, Berbice and Rehana Baichoo also of Johanna, North Black Bush Polder who was an occupant of the minibus; a parked lorry owned by Khemdatt Persaud of Vryheid, West Canje Berbice and Mark Rose of Tucber, New Amsterdam, Berbice who was changing a tyre.
Enquiries revealed that according to Subratally, about 6:15 pm he was driving along the road at 50 kmph within the vicinity of the Port Mourant Public Hospital when he saw the parked lorry with its hazard lights on.
The bus driver further alleged that while in the process of passing the lorry, the driver of the car, Mangal tried to overtake him and collided with the front door of his bus. As a result of the impact, he in turn collided with the rear of the lorry.
Owing to the impact also, Mangal lost control and struck Rose who was changing a punctured tyre on the lorry.
Following the accident, Mangal fled the scene while public-spirited citizens escorted the pedestrian, the passengers and the driver of the minibus who suffered injuries to the Port Mourant Hospital. The passenger of the car was treated and sent away while the others were treated and referred to the New Amsterdam Hospital. Rose was treated for a fractured ankle and lacerations to both hands before being sent away.
The passenger of the minibus was treated for a fractured leg and sent away while the minibus driver was treated for a fractured right ankle and admitted in a stable condition.
Mangal who was subsequently arrested by officers had a Breathalyzer test carried out on him where his alcohol content read 52 and 54 micrograms respectively.
A Breathalyzer test was also done on the driver of the minibus and his alcohol content read zero.
The hire car driver is currently in police custody. Investigations are ongoing.
