– 16 others injured

THREE persons were killed and 16 others hospitalised after a mini-bus and a car crashed Friday night at Richmond Village, Essequibo Coast.Dead are 19-year-old Esau Cornette and 45-year-old Lavon Gray – neighbours of Dartmouth Village – and Gavin Lawrie, 19, of Plantation Andrews. They were pronounced dead at the Suddie

Hospital.
Reports disclosed that the driver of the mini-bus, BRR 9867, Glenford Stephens, was heading to Anna Regina with 17 passengers and the car, PMM 5867, was heading in the opposite direction when they collided. The incident occurred around 23:00 hrs.
According to reports, the mini-bus was negotiating a right-bend and ended up on the western side of the road which resulted in a head-on collision with the motorcar. As a result, most of the mini-bus passengers were flung out of the vehicle.
Six persons, including the driver, Gavin Lawrie, were in the car at the time. The others who have been hospitalised are Maxwell Lawrie, 18, of Better Success; Ruel Lawrie, 34, of Plantation Andrews; Navin Radish, 21, of Plantation Andrews; Anil Mark, 17, of Better Success; and Maxton Lawrie, 28, of Better Success.
Among those injured from the mini-bus who were taken to the Georgetown Hospital are: Aldred Shepherd, 23, of Dartmouth who is listed as critical; and Kadeen Clay, 17, of Dartmouth. The other injured persons, who were taken to the Suddie Hospital, are: Stephen Benn, 22, who was listed as critical; Kevin Brummell, 25; Rodwin Barrington, 20; Kevon Clay, 20; Trevor John, 18; Delroy Barrington, 24; Lancel Caesar, 22; Roven Johnson, 19; Anzel Cornette, 20; and Glenford Stephen, 26. Others were discharged with minor injuries.
Unconfirmed reports disclosed that the persons in the mini-bus and the car were out partying before the accident occurred.

Residents flocked the accident scene and tried to aid with the removal of the bodies from the road. Hospital sources disclosed that many of the injured persons suffered broken limbs.
Regional Councillors and Liaison to the Public Security Ministry, Hardat Narine, told this publication that he was very disappointed with the unprofessional behaviour of the policemen at the accident scene and at the Suddie Hospital, Essequibo Coast.
Reflecting on the scenario, Narine explained that the accident scene was one which was confusing, since bodies were scattered on the roadway and the police did

not use their vehicles to transport injured persons to the Suddie Hospital.
He said that when persons at the scene requested to help, the police at the scene were telling concerned citizens to leave the injured persons alone, since an ambulance would deal with the picking up of the injured.
The RDC official said he then confronted the police at the scene, relating that the injured needed help as early as possible since they had been on the roadway for over 35 minutes crying for help.
“I started behave badly and myself and public-spirited citizens started to assist. I picked up the first person, which was a man lying in the middle of the public road, [and] the police were saying leave them until the ambulance come. Then I start to motivate people to help,” the liaison to the Public Security Ministry explained.
Narine explained that he picked up a teacher who was attached to the Charity Primary School since he was bleeding baldy. He said only one person could have fitted in a lying position in his car and he rushed that person to the Suddie Hospital.

He said he contacted a doctor and placed her on alert, and other doctors were summoned to treat the injured.
He alleged that at the Suddie Hospital, the police that failed to render assistance, and as at the accident scene, began to behave in an unprofessional manner while using indecent language in the accident and emergency section.
“When I confronted a policeman about his behaviour, he wanted to fight. He was telling relatives of the injured that when things happen must not call on them for help,” Narine stated.
He explained that Saturday morning four persons were air-dashed to the GPHC, while others were taken by Ambulance on the ferry service.
“I want to thank Dr. Khan, Dr. Gray, Dr Rajiv and their team for doing a wonderful job in assisting with all the accident victims,” he said. Traffic Chief (ag) Superintendent Boodnarine Persaud called on passengers in vehicles that are speeding to be more vigilant and reprimand drivers who use the road recklessly, since allowing drivers to speed can result in their own demise.
When asked if there is a way to check for alcoholic content other than a breathalyzer test, the Traffic Chief said there is no blood- alcohol testing being done in Guyana due to the unavailability of the relevant machine.

(Rabindra Rooplall)