Several vehicles were involved in a pile-up just before midday yesterday at Foulis, West Coast Bebrice leaving a driver seriously hurt and others with minor injuries.
Dense smoke from a rice field fire which obscured visibility was blamed by drivers for the collision.
The 11 am accident involved motorcar, PYY 7837, which was being driven by Akeem Daniels, 23, of Number 28 Village, West Coast Berbice; motor car, PWW 5627, driven by Jaichand Jaikaran, 41, of Fifth Street Success, East Coast Demerara; motor car PAB 1558, driven by Abocy Lynch, 36, of Bel Air, West Coast Berbice and motor car PPP 4151, driven by Rawle Bacchus, 43, of Catherine, East Coast Demerara.
Daniels’ vehicle also had occupants Marica Brown, 40, of Enterprise, East Coast Demerara and Trimel Sears, 22, of Number 28 Village, West Coast Berbice, while Jaikaran’s wife was in the front passenger seat at the time of the collision.
According to the Guyana Police Force, Jaikaran was proceeding east on the public road, while Bacchus and Daniels were proceeding in the same direction behind each other.
Daniels reportedly told police that he observed smoke along the roadway which blurred his vision, causing him to lose control of his vehicle, which collided with the right side of motorcar PPP 4151 driven by Bacchus. Bacchus’ vehicle was then propelled into Lynch’s before coming to a stop in a nearby trench.
Bacchus was rushed to the Mahaicony Public Hospital, where he was treated and transferred to the Georgetown Public Hospital, where as of last evening he remains hospitalised.
According to his nephew, Aron Wilson, the man sustained a broken leg and hand among other injuries.
Meanwhile, several other persons were taken to the Fort Wellington Hospital, where they were treated for minor injuries.
The police yesterday informed that breathalyser tests were done on all the drivers and no trace of alcohol was found.
Motor lorry, GZZ 7651, which was being driven by Noel Hubert Jagan, 55, of Mahaica, East Coast Demerara, was proceeding in the opposite direction but after noticing the smoke he reduced his speed thus avoiding a collision with any of the vehicles.
After the report of the pile-up, the Guyana Fire Service arrived quickly at the scene and put out the rice field fire.
Meanwhile, residents in the area yesterday told Stabroek News that one of the cars stopped in the middle of the road due to the smoke which then resulted in the multiple collisions. “He been stop in the middle and then Rawle come from aback and slow down but the other one come speed and hit Rawle and then all crash.”
According to the residents, any time the rice fields, which are located on both sides of the main access road are being burnt, minor accidents occur in the vicinity.
However, one man opined that drivers need to be more careful. “How you gone see all that smoke and go drive?” he questioned.
An elderly man also pointed out that whenever the rice fields are being burnt in preparation for a crop the smoke always takes over the main access road leaving drivers with little or no sight for some time.
Meanwhile, the uninjured drivers gathered at the Weldaad Police Station following the accident yesterday afternoon where they all blamed the smoke.
One driver said he was still trying to “figure out what happen” as all he remembered was being in his car and feeling an impact.
