…struck by another vehicle at Houston

A FAMILY of six narrowly escaped serious injury after their vehicle, PJJ 3397, was thrown from its lane onto the other, last evening around 19:30hrs at Houston, in the vicinity of the Houston Secondary School – making it the second accident in one day at the exact location.
Driver of the vehicle, Trideo Ramroop, told the Guyana Chronicle that his wife and four children were in the car on the way to their home at Eccles after visiting in Charlestown.

He noted that he felt an impact at the back of his car and before he knew it, his vehicle was flung over the other side of the road and sent spinning before coming to a halt.
The driver of the other vehicle, PRR 9731, a Nissan Cube, was visibly under the influence of alcohol and was arrested on site.

He was overhead on his cell phone reporting that his accident occurred on “Cemetery Road” and soon after attempted to escape police custody, but was restrained by an officer on site after he fell in his attempt to get out of the police vehicle.
When asked for a comment, the driver, whose name was not confirmed up to press time, said, only, that the others involved in the accident can say what they want to.
He and his girlfriend were the only occupants in his car.
The Ramroop children, who were complaining of aches about the body, and Mrs. Ramroop were rushed to the Woodlands Hospital and have since been reported to be doing well. Mr. Ramroop did not accompany them to the hospital, rather, he stayed on site until his vehicle was towed before heading to the police station.

POLICE ASSAULTED
There was one other arrest last night of a young Afro-Guyanese man, whose name was not disclosed.
The individual, a friend of the driver of the Nissan Cube, attempted to get Mr. Ramroop to agree to a settlement.
After Ramroop told him that the other driver was not in a position to negotiate a settlement, the individual moved to reason with the police officer, guarding his friend, who was sitting in the back of the police van.

Failure to get any satisfaction resulted in him using abusive language directed to the police officer. He subsequently tried to run, but was chased by two officers and arrested.
Then he and his friend, the driver of the Nissan Cube, were handcuffed together before being taken to the police station.
Many of his supporters were vehemently protesting his arrest, but an equally vociferous number of onlookers were in support of the police.
Commander of A Division, George Vyfhuis, when asked by the media, discounted reports that a gun was involved in the altercation.
Reports up to 19:30hrs suggested that the accident was the eighth reported for the day, many involving drivers who were under the influence of alcohol.
The Commander also appealed for drivers to heed the traffic laws and not drink and drive.
He said, “It is a concern. I was told that this is the third accident, but I’m not too sure if it’s eight.
“We’ve had a fatal in one this afternoon and now this one completely blocked the main carriage way, which we have serious concern about, because we cannot allow vehicles to come through this particular corridor and stall in such a place because of security concerns.
“We had to come in and deal with this, but we’re appealing to the drivers to please do not drink and drive. We cannot afford that now.
“Do not drink and drive. Designate a driver and you will get to where you are going safely. Do not speed. Do not try to overtake another vehicle when you don’t have the opportunity to do that.
“I think it is very dangerous and we are risking our lives and getting rid of innocent people’s lives very easily.”
Many road users were yesterday participating in the Phagwah festivities, which religious organisations have been stressing is a holiday where non-consumption of alcohol should be the order of the day.

(By Vanessa Narine)