THE driver of the car that crashed into a minibus with more than 14 passengers on the Lima Public Road on the Essequibo Coast on Sunday succumbed just after 14:00 hrs yesterday at the Suddie Public Hospital after battling for his life on life support machine for more than 36 hours after the horrific accident.
The 22-year-old driver, Junior Ramroop of Charity New Housing Scheme was the eldest son of Jackie Ramroop.
The driver who sustained serious injuries to his stomach, abdomen and face remained in the Suddie Hospital ICU in a critical condition after the accident while the other injured patients were air dashed to the Georgetown Public Hospital.
Reports said his mother, Jackie, who stayed at his bedside, prayed and hoped that God would have saved her son’s life,  lost the battle when his life left him.
Two persons are now dead as a result of the smash-up.
Scores of Essequibians are calling on the police to enforce the breathalyser test on drivers of vehicles and motorcycles for alcohol consumption in light of the horrific accident Sunday on the Lima Public Road which has so far claimed two lives and left several others including children seriously injured.
Essequibians said the situation concerning speeding and drinking and driving on the main Essequibo Coast public road is getting out of hand and the police need to clamp down on the situation before more innocent lives are lost.
Several Essequibains said last Sunday minibuses, cars, cruisers and other vehicles were driving very fast along the public road to transport hundreds of people to the Mainstay Regatta and some drivers had no regard for the speed limit on the road.
Residents said the police need to do more to enforce the speed limits and use the breathalyser test on drivers who are suspected to be under the influence of alcohol while driving.
Several persons who witnessed the accident on Sunday said it was speeding that caused the horrific crash. Both vehicles are damaged beyond repair. The car driven by Junior Ramroop of Charity was a new BMW model.
Residents are also calling on the Essequibo business community to help by erecting more signboards along the roadway with required speed limit in certain areas and warning signs near dangerous bends in the road.
One resident said young drivers should not be issued with the ‘red cover’ driver’s licence until they complete police driving lessons (practical) for more than a year before becoming drivers on the public road.
He said young inexperienced drivers on the public road are a risk to innocent people’s lives.