A driver attached to the Ministry of Health was yesterday charged with causing the death of Cuthbert Crandon who succumbed to his injuries after an accident with the ministry’s vehicle on Vlissengen Road.
Orlando Fraser, 50, of Lot 12 Pike Street, Kitty, Georgetown, was brought before Magistrate Clive Nurse at the Georgetown Magistrate’s Court where he was read the charge and released on $250,000 bail.
It is alleged that on February 19, at Vlissengen Road, Georgetown, he drove the ministry’s minibus, number 5798, in a dangerous manner thereby causing the death of Cuthbert Crandon, 41.
Fraser, who is a father of three, was not required to plead to the charge. His attorney told the court that Fraser has been a driver at the Ministry of Health for seven years and that on the day in question, the man had been driving the ministry’s bus. The court also heard that Fraser tried to avoid the collision but he was unsuccessful.
It was stated by the police that Crandon was cycling south along the eastern drive lane of Vlissengen Road while balancing a mattress on his head when he suddenly swerved right onto the western-drive lane in an attempt to cross onto the western side of the road. Fraser had been proceeding south along the road at a fast rate, and when Crandon turned, he ended up in the path of the minibus. It was also reported that Fraser swerved in an attempt to avoid a collision but still ending up hitting the pedal cyclist. As a result of the collision, the pedal cyclist fell on the roadway and suffered multiple injuries about his body.
He was picked up in an unconscious state by an ambulance and transported to the Georgetown Public Hospital. The cyclist suffered five broken ribs and a lung contusion. He had been on a ventilator before he succumbed to the injuries.
