A SMASH-UP involving a 15-seater minibus and a Raum at the corner of Evans and Lyng Streets, Charlestown, late yesterday, resulted in at least eleven persons, including school children, being seriously injured.

It was a miracle that no one died in the accident, commuters and residents in the area said, marvelling at the destruction caused and how they were able to exit the minibus which is now totally written off.
Bearing the brunt of the injuries was the conductor of the minibus, whose name persons at the scene were unable to ascertain. He suffered a broken arm, severe head injuries and abrasions about his body and was bleeding profusely. On impact, the driver of the minibus exited the vehicle in shock, then ‘bolted’.
Others injured include Zulikha Henry, 9, a pupil of School of the Nations, who was on her way home from lessons. She suffered injury to her left arm and was bleeding from the shoulder; Jahiem Prescod, 4, of South Road Nursery School, along with his parents – Kelly Prescod and Dernel Alleyne, both 27, of 266 East La Penitence; Kurticia Kelman 23, suffered severe head injuries, a puncture to the knees and injuries to her hands; Sheldon,19, also known as ‘Show Time’of Walker Terrace and his friend Orin Jones 34, of 65 West Ruimveldt Housing Scheme; and Javel Gomes, 23, of 651 Zenith, East Ruimveldt Housing Scheme.
Commuters and residents in the neighbourhood said that around 17:00 hrs, minibus BMM 2847, plying the Number 47 Back Road route, was heading east along Evans Street, when, as it approached the junction of Lyng and Evans Streets, ploughed into a white Raum motor car – PPP4432, heading north along Lyng Street.
On impact, witnesses recalled, the minibus turned turtle, spun several times, with terrified passengers flying out the windows and into the street. Every window was smashed, but witnesses said there was no need for persons coming to the rescue to break windows to get the passengers out, since the windows were all shattered and persons were flung from the vehicle.
The roadway at the scene of the accident was littered with shattered windscreens and blood, and civic-minded citizens hastily helped dispatch the injured persons to hospital.
At the hospital, commuters recalled that several times they had cautioned the driver of the minibus, who was speeding, urging him to slow down, but he ignored them, and continued to ‘do it’.
Javel Gomes 23, who was seated in the front seat, recalled that she and a Rasta woman next to her, both flew out of the window. She apparently suffered a dislocated shoulder, but even though evidently in pain, she gave God thanks.
Orin Jones and his friend Sheldon, who both work on another minibus, said they were heading to the mechanic to pick up their bus, but apparently made a bad choice of the bus on which to travel. They too, flew out the window.
Meanwhile, the front of motor car PPP4432 was badly smashed.
Last night the police were trying to locate the driver of the minibus who had earlier fled the scene.