A PEDESTRIAN who is still nursing multiple injuries since October 27th last year is calling on the police to take action against the speeding minibus driver who struck him down at Covent Garden, East Bank Demerara. Andrew Simmons, 45, a father of three, recalls that on the night of October 27, around 22:00hrs, he was crossing the newly-constructed Covent Garden public road, heading for Middle Street, when he was struck down.
The vehicle had driven onto the upper lane that was under construction, and the conductor removed a drum placed by the construction workers, allowing the bus to blaze through.
It was then Simmons was struck down and suffered a broken right fibula and ankle, and after almost one year he has not recovered. He has been in and out of hospital since then and now has to endure the agony of a fixator fitted to his leg.
He said in an instant, the bus, heading for Georgetown ‘blazed’ through the demarcated area and before he knew it, had slammed into him, breaking the fibula of his leg (midway between the tibia and ankle). He also suffered injury to his ankle among other things.
Simmons said the driver stopped and took him to the Diamond Hospital, during which time he learnt that the man lived at Timehri, and was able to get his name and phone number. The matter was reported to the Providence police who promised to investigate thoroughly and take action.
The injured man was transferred to the Georgetown Public Hospital (GPH) and the driver promised to visit him in hospital. He said the driver visited him on about three occasions, promising the last time that he would come back to arrange a settlement, but he never did. In fact he never gave him anything since causing the injuries.
Simmons recounts that he has been re-admitted to hospital for several different procedures – for the first three months he was re-admitted because the wound became infected and had to be taken care of; later for the leg to be cast. And by January he had to have steel implanted into his ankle which was also damaged and had started acting up.
In April, steel and plate had to be implanted into the fibula which was broken (above the ankle). A few months later, the steel began acting on the bone and so last Monday he was readmitted to hospital and the steel was finally removed and an external fixator applied. The fixator is expected to remain on his leg for the next two to three months.
Meantime, throughout the ordeal, he has had to be trekking back and forth between his home and Diamond Hospital to have dressings done – all at his own expense.
Simmons, a construction worker, lived in Antigua for several years. However, he returned home about three years ago, and by the second year he suffered this horrible accident. He is now regretting his decision to return home.