Drunken driver puts motorcyclist, pillion rider in hospital

MOTORCYCLIST Jessy Gibbs, and his pillion rider, Marino Matthias, 24, are now warded at the Georgetown Public Hospital (GPH) in serious condition, after being involved in a horrific accident Sunday on the Little Diamond Public Road, East Bank Demerara.

The accident reportedly occurred sometime after 01:00hrs, when a motorcar, driven by an alleged drunken driver, ploughed into their motorcycle.

Gibbs has suffered a broken left leg, an open fracture to his left knee, and fractured fingers on his right hand. He recalls that his injuries were so severe, that his lower leg was practically swinging out of control as rescuers tried to pick him up after the accident; and they had to strap his knee in place with a shirt to keep it under control.

His leg has since been implanted with five pieces of steel at the GPH, and is badly swollen. Gibbs said the doctor wanted to amputate the injured limb, but thanks to the intervention of a nurse on duty, he was advised against doing so.

Pillion rider Matthias, of Diamond New Scheme, was thrust under the motor car which struck them. He narrowly avoided being crushed, but nevertheless suffered a fractured skull, broke both legs, and his head and face were badly burned by the car’s radiator.

Gibbs told the Guyana Chronicle that he and Matthias had just left the Diamond New Scheme and were riding along with another motorcycle duo — Paul and his pillion rider Eboni — en route to the ‘Busy Signal’ show at Thirst Park when the accident occurred.

He said they were riding through Little Diamond at the time, when the car hit them from behind, the impact hurling him into nearby bushes.

Matthias, who ended up under the vehicle, said he had to apply all the strength in his body in order to get it off him. He said his friends initially did not know where he had been tossed in the accident, because they could not find him; and it was only when he cried out in pain, after being burnt by the radiator, that villagers who had come to the rescue declared, “A man under the car!” and they got him out.
By then, the driver had exited the car and was about to run away, but the villagers caught him and gave him a ‘fine thrashing’.

The police were summoned and proceeded to investigate. However, they have not yet visited Gibbs or Matthias in hospital to take statements.

(By Shirley Thomas)