Victim in runaway minibus accident is Chinese subcontractor

The minibus that was involved in the accident
The minibus that was involved in the accident

The man who died after being hit when a minibus ploughed through the fence of a property at Timehri was a Chinese national, and a sub-contractor of CNQC International attached to the Marriot Hotel project.

The now dead sub-contractor has been identified as 59-year-old, Gao Zhen Jin, and the mini-bus BYY 7852, that struck him was driven by Godfrey Collins, 34, of Middle Walk, Golden Grove, East Coast Demerara.

Roy Bassoo, the owner of R. Bassoo Building and Civil Engineering Con-tractors told Stabroek News yesterday that Jin was a sub-contractor of CNQC International attached to the Marriot hotel project. On the day of the accident, Jin and other workers were doing some work in front of the building which is R. Bassoo Building and Civil Engineering Contractors main site, when at about 7 pm, the minibus drove through the fence, into their compound and landed in front of the office.

Bassoo noted that unfortunately that day when most of the employees had already left, workers were still doing some tasks in front of the building. He informed that two persons were hit by the minibus; one died and the other, whose name was not mentioned, received a fractured leg and was rushed to the medical centre where he was treated and discharged.

The visibly infuriated owner posited that the police should take away the drivers’ licences from drivers who drive recklessly on the roadways and ban them from driving.

Meanwhile, a police report stated that investigation continue into a fatal incident that occurred about 19:30 hours, on the Timehri public road. Police enquires disclosed that about 19:30 hours, the white Zone 42 ‘Pitbull’ minibus was speeding east on the Timehri Public Road, in the vicinity of the roundabout.

The driver, after failing to slow down and turn left, drove straight across the road into the construction site compound. The minibus ploughed through the fence and struck Jin, who was standing in front of the building at the time.

As a result of the collision, Jin fell to the ground where he sustained injuries about his body. He was picked up in an unconscious condition by the police and public spirited citizens, and rushed to the Diamond Diagnostic Centre, East Bank Deme-rara, where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

The body is presently at a funeral home awaiting a post-mortem examination.