DEATH struck just after 21:00hrs last evening as three persons were killed in a horrible two-vehicle smash-up involving a canter and a car on Carifesta Avenue, Georgetown.Dead are Linden Eastman and the Pyle couple –- 26-year-old Stacy and her husband, Robert. Stacy Pyle, a nurse at the Davis Memorial Hospital, died while receiving medical attention at the Georgetown Public Hospital. Her husband Robert, a Guyana Defence Force Sergeant, and the driver of the canter, Linden Eastman, died on the spot. Eastman lived alone in Prashad Nagar, while the Pyles lived at Dazzel Housing Scheme, East Coast Demerara.

This publication understands that Eastman, who was driving white canter number GSS 8563, was heading west along Carifesta Avenue when the vehicle collided with a speeding white Premio – PRR 9118 — driven by Robert Pyle. Efforts to save the trio proved futile despite the prompt response of the police and fire service. The accident victims were reportedly pinned in their vehicles, and had to be freed by the efforts of the Guyana Fire Service (GFS).

The impact of the hit folded the bonnet of the car, while the canter had its front smashed in. Both windscreens were ripped out of the respective vehicles and lay shattered on the roadway.

The upper half of Eastman’s body was left hanging over the front passenger seat while the lower half was still positioned in the driver’s seat. Bones from his legs pierced his skin and became exposed. As persons gathered around the canter to video and take photos of the horrific scene, the police and firefighters rushed frantically to acquire equipment to cut the vehicles and remove his body. When Eastman’s mangled body was removed from the canter a few minutes later, it was evident that most of his bones had been broken.

At that point, some persons who were able to glimpse his face identified him as “Smallie”, who did “trucking business” in and around Georgetown.
One bystander remarked that Smallie had been a “hustler” outside the popular Courts outlet in downtown Georgetown, and would normally provide transportation services to people who purchase large household items.

With assistance from members of the Fire Service, the police were able to load Smallie’s body onto a pickup for transport to the GPHC. The owner of the canter is said to be Clive Primus of Lot 46 Joseph Pollydore Street, Lodge.

Moments later, while efforts were being made to remove the two vehicles, one man, who failed to identify himself by name, claimed that the car, which was now ‘written off,’ was his.
Pacing back and forth evidently out of frustration, the man then began pounding away at the Premio with what appeared to be a spanner. This attracted the attention of police, who then escorted him away from the car.

It was then revealed that the car had not belonged to the couple.

The mother and cousin of the now dead woman were, up to press time, at the GPHC. Though she could hardly control her emotions, the distraught woman revealed that her daughter and husband had lived with her at Paradise, ECD, and Robert had been requested to report to Base Camp Ayanganna, which led to them leaving the house.

“He di off duty during the time, and they [GDF] called he and tell he to report. And is lef’ he lef’ to go after he get the call. Stacy was on duty, though,” the grieving mother said as she sobbed uncontrollably.

She explained that the couple has been happily married, and that they are survived by two children, one three years old and the other six. The dead woman’s cousin embraced her grieving mother and tried to console her.

By Ravin Singh