–one admitted in hospital
FIFTY-FOUR (54) workers attached to the Albion Sugar Estate were rushed to the Port Mourant Primary Health Care Centre after the Lorry they were travelling in overturned, at 05:20 hrs yesterday morning, in the vicinity of the empolder at Resource, Port Mourant, Corentyne, Region 6. According to a preliminary report coming from the Guyana Sugar Corporation’s (GuySuCo) Albion Estate, while travelling on the Tain Main Access Road in the vicinity of the empolder at 26 Side Line, Resource, the lorry driver apparently lost control, resulting in the vehicle overturning in the Side Line empolder.
The workers involved in the accident, including lorry driver Gordat Kashrilall (contracted driver) were examined by the Medex and referred to the Port Mourant Hospital. Thirteen (13) of the 14 persons who were transferred to the New Amsterdam Hospital were treated, given leave and sent home; while Mr. Vaughn Punch has been admitted for further observation.
Shorty after the accident, Agriculture Minister, Dr. Leslie Ramsammy was informed, and he visited the hospital to render assistance to the victims.
The Estate’s Health and Safety Officer (EHSO) visited Mr. Punch at the New Amsterdam Hospital at 17:30 hrs yesterday afternoon, and reported that the injured worker’s condition was currently stable.
Both the EHSO and the Human Resources Manager will continue to monitor his condition by continuing to liaise with the New Amsterdam Hospital and Mr. Punch’s family via telephone.
At this point in time, the cause of the accident is yet to be determined. However, preliminary investigations have revealed that the lorry driver saw a spark under the dashboard and attempted to look for the source whilst driving, and as a result lost control of the lorry.
Most of the injured workers, who formed part of the 17B Harvesting Gang at Albion Estate, received lacerations, trauma, fracture and abrasions as a result of the crash.
GuySuCo’s Chief Executive Officer, Paul Bhim, in a telephone interview last evening, assured that details of the incident would be forthcoming as soon as the final reports are in.