Accident at Ramp Road, EBD…
DOCTORS at the Georgetown Public Hospital (GPH) were late yesterday in theatre, battling to save the life of a 57-year-old grandfather, struck down by a minibus at Ramp Road, East Bank Demerara, earlier in the day.

The victim, George Bacchus, of 46 West Ruimveldt, was rushed to the Accident and Emergency Unit, suffering injuries to his brain and other parts of the head; fractured arms and legs and other abrasions about the body.

Even though a CT-scan was ordered for him, because of the severity of his injuries suffered, he was unable to immediately travel to the St. Joseph’s Mercy Hospital where the scan is to be done, relatives said last night. In the interim, he was operated on for other injuries suffered.

Bacchus’ distraught daughter, Emalie, an employee of King’s Advertising Company, said that around 20:15 hrs yesterday, her father had just collected her ten-year-old son at the head of Ramp Road, to take him to West Ruimveldt Primary School as is customary.

She said that, scarcely had they stepped onto the public road, than a speeding minibus ploughed into him causing him to suffer severe injuries. The ten-year old, who was about two steps ahead of his grandfather, escaped unhurt, but was severely traumatised.

The ten-year-old recalled that, he had just moved off when he heard “Blam!” and looked around, only to see his grandfather prostrate on the roadway. In a frenzy, he said, the driver and conductor of the minibus picked up the bleeding George Bacchus, placed him in the bus and drove off to the hospital, leaving him (the grandchild) stranded at the roadside. He said he was forced to seek the cooperation of a kind passer-by to get back to his grandmother’s home in West Ruimveldt, where he related the tragedy.

Late yesterday, relatives stood outside the main operating theatre at the GPHC hoping and praying for Bacchus’ recovery while doctors, on the inside were battling to save his life.