Three men were killed and two were injured after a speeding vehicle ploughed into them and a bar before coming to a halt on the De Willem Public Road, West Coast Demerara.
The deceased have been identified as Carlito Gobin, 23, of De Willem and fishermen Keram Rampersaud, 41, of Zeeburg and Ayube Mohammed, 44, of 167 Meten Meer Zorg, West Coast Demerara.
Those injured have been identified as Wazim Mohammed and Joey (only name given) along with the driver 19-year-old Matthew Ambedkar of Tuschen Housing Scheme, East Bank Essequibo.
The deceased were standing outside of the Sharmila Harrykissoon Sports Bar while the injured men, Mohammed and Joey were sitting inside of the shop. Mohammed and Ambedkar were admitted to the hospital for medical attention while Joey, who sus-tained minor injuries was treated and discharged.
Details of the accident, which occurred at approximately 9.30 pm remain sketchy and at press time this morning police were still processing the scene and taking statements from eyewitnesses.
According to eyewit-nesses, the motor vehicle driven by Ambedkar was travelling at high speed.
The driver lost control of the vehicle and slammed into a parked Nissan X-trail bearing registration number PYY 9456 and then into the now dead men, who were in front of the sports bar. The car then smashed into the bar tearing down a section of the counter and injuring Mohammed and Joey, who were sitting inside.
The victims were found at different areas of the crash scene. One was found in the drain in front of the shop, another was found amid the debris inside the bar and the third person some distance away from the point of impact.
Co-proprietor of the bar, Murti Ramtoolise last night said that he was still trying to figure out what had occurred. Moments before the accident he said he was standing outside of the bar with the now deceased men but left and went inside.
“I was standing with them outside and I ordered a hot dog from a man selling in front here. The two fishermen just bought a beer and came outside and were drinking it. After the man went and get sausage, I come inside to get money to pay him and while I inside the bar I just see this car come straight into the shop,” the man recalled.
He stated that a few seconds later he observed that persons were on the ground and rushed to their assistance. Joey, he said, was the first person to come out and assisted in freeing the man who was pinned under the rubble.
“I had to come and help take out the men. Two of them were between the wall and the side of the car and the other was between all this mess (pointing to the crash scene),” he stated.
He added that when they went outside they saw another victim in the drain in front of his shop. Moments later he said they found the third victim..
Accident survivor, Joey after receiving medical attention returned to the scene last night. He told Stabroek News that he was sitting in the shop and without any warning he heard a bang and after that he saw the car inside of the bar.
“It happened so fast I don’t know what really happened. I just know I come out and I help the man put the guys inside the bus and take them to the hospital,” he explained.
At the scene last night, Gobin’s father said he was at work when the family called and informed him of the tragedy.
He said that it was after he got off of work he managed to visit the scene of the accident.
Minister of Home Affairs Robeson Benn also visited the scene of the accident last night.