ALVIN Fleming, an eyewitness, on Friday testified in the trial of Ritesh Bhagwandin, the 19-year-old driver of the sandtruck that took the lives of four persons on the Coverden Public Road, East Bank Demerara on October 18, 2013.Now 22, Bhagwandin, of Lot 12 Hope, East Coast Demerara, stands indicted before Providence Magistrate Leron Daley for driving motor lorry GPP 8495 in a manner dangerous to the public, thereby causing the deaths of Felix Marc, Coretta Evans, Delroy Evans, and Poolmattie Samaroo.

Fleming explained that he could never forget the events of the day in question. He said he was walking along the road by the Relief Gas Station on his way back to his home in Coverden at about 11:15 hrs, when there was a backup of vehicles on the said roadway. He said he was alerted by a loud screeching noise and saw a motor lorry going above the speed limit approaching the said roadway heading in a northerly direction. He said the lorry headed into the path of another vehicle that was on the western side of the road, resulting in a collision with a mini-bus that was coming in the said direction.

The witness pointed out that the collision rammed the truck into a nearby trench, while the bus was thrown on the eastern side of the road.

“I ran up to the bus and saw the driver dangling by his seatbelt, unconscious with a big gash wound on his neck, while the rest of the passengers were piled up on each other in an unconscious state in the bus also,” Fleming explained to the court, with guidance from the prosecutor, Inspector Michael Grant.

He pointed out that he ran back home, which was a short distance away, to get assistance; and upon his return to the scene, he was forced to take a few moments to compose himself because of the horror he was witnessing.

While he was mum, other public-spirited citizens rushed to the aid of the injured persons; and when he found strength, he went to assist them to get to the hospital.

The absence of Bhagwandin’s counsel, Mr. Bernard De Santos, forced adjournment of the matter until Friday, August 21.

A total of 12 witnesses have so far been called, including civilians and police personnel. Among them is Orson Riley, who was in the front seat of the Mahdia-bound minibus and had suffered a fractured shoulder and other minor injuries.

In addition, Police Sergeant Harry testified that he was present at the accident scene and had seen an ambulance take away the injured to the Diamond Diagnostic Hospital, and he was also responsible for arresting the defendant and investigating the accident.

By Clestine Juan