TRAGEDY struck yesterday afternoon when a speeding minibus lost control and smashed into a parked RAV4 (SUV), PGG 6938, in the vicinity of Durban and Smyth Streets, Georgetown. The Guyana Chronicle arrived on the scene to see one passenger still pinned to the front of the bus, approximately half-hour after the incident had occurred. The other passengers escaped unhurt.
Speaking with this publication, driver of the damaged SUV, Deryck King, said he had, only minutes before, parked his vehicle when he heard the loud bang.
“I had just parked my vehicle, and was about to cross the road when this minibus swerved out from another vehicle. He didn’t have another alternative, because the other side of the road was blocked; and so he lost control and ran off the road and into my vehicle.” King related.
Good Samaritans from the surrounding area came to the rescue of the passengers, assisting them out; while two others remained with the man who was pinned by the legs to the front of the bus, fanning him to keep him conscious through the severity of his injuries.
The man, whose name is still unknown, was in a state of shock; and his silence spoke eloquently about the pain he was experiencing.
After minutes of working with the injured man, members of the Guyana Fire Service and the Guyana Police Force were able to extricate him; taking him to a waiting ambulance by which he was then rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital for medical attention.
Both driver and conductor of the minibus BLL 2626 (41 route) were taken to the Brickdam Police Station to assist with police investigations into the mishap.