By Shauna Jemmott
A 27-year-old man died yesterday after the motorcycle he was riding collided with a Route 50 minibus on the Hope Public Road, East Coast Demerara. Kevin Nieuenkirk, 27, of Victoria, East Coast Demerara was rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital in an unconscious state, but died while receiving treatment in the Emergency section.
Police at ‘C’ Division on the East Coast Demerara said the accident occurred around 10:30 hours yesterday. The minibus, driven by a man who lives at Plantation Hope, West Coast Berbice, was travelling with family members, and he alleged that he was negotiating a turn when the motorcycle careened into his path and the collision occurred.
Police said they were still investigating the matter.
When the Guyana Chronicle visited the home of Nieuenkirk’s family, a number of mourners had gathered quietly in the yard. His mother, Nathalie Nieuenkirk managed to contain herself, while an uncle arrived in tears.
Nieuenkirk said her son lived at Golden Grove with his fiancé, but visited her yesterday morning. She said he pushed the motorcycle, and accompanied her halfway to a shop before they parted. That was the last she saw him.
“I was going to the shop; I cross the trench, and he go where he had to go. Not even an hour after, I heard that he got in an accident,” the grieving mother stated.
She said she travelled to the scene a few miles away, but he had already been taken to the Nabacalis Health Centre, where he received oxygen before being transferred to the Georgetown Hospital in an ambulance.
When she arrived at the hospital, he had already died.
Nathalie said her son’s hand and foot appeared to have been broken, and she noticed blood oozing from his ears.
The man’s reputed wife, Hulicia Williams said he’d left their home earlier that morning to visit his mother, and while she was at their shop at Nabacalis, a man appeared and told her that her husband was involved in an accident, and was at the Nabacalis Hospital. She hurried there.
Williams told the Guyana Chronicle that Nieuenkirk was a cool person and a good husband. They’d lived together over a year, and run a business jointly at Nabacalis Hospital Road.
While the Chronicle was at the Victoria home, Nathalie Nieuenkirk was overheard telling someone: “Family must live good; you don’t know what would happen. Not even an hour, and my son gone.”
He has left to mourn his mother, reputed wife and siblings, Adrian and Sherryann, among other relatives.