Avinash Gangram, 24, called “Rex”, Mahendra Rampraskash called “Vishal” and Rameshwar Mangar called “Bai” who suffered injuries in Sunday night smashup that claimed the lives of two, have been discharged from hospital.On Sunday night, around 21:30 hrs, Toyota Spacio PPP 4744 was allegedly being driven at a fast rate by Richard Ramnarine when it collided with a horse on the Number 50 Village Public Road, Corentyne, Berbice.

After hitting the animal, the driver lost control of the vehicle, toppling several times, flinging some of its occupants out before coming to a halt in a nearby trench.

Reports indicate that the driver and the passengers were ‘drinking’ prior to the accident, and were on their way home when the accident occurred.

Dead is Richard Ramnarine, 45, called “Desperado” who is a truck driver and Ramesh Preempat, 23, called “Dodee”, who is a porter.

Richard was the driver of the ill-fated vehicle. His mother-in-law Vimlawattie Ramdeen told the Guyana Chronicle that she received a call informing that her son-in-law was in an accident.

“I was too numb to go and check it because I have had to deal with so
many tragedies, it was later they said that he died.”

Avinash Gangram, who was in the front passenger of the car told this newspaper that the driver and other passengers were drinking and the driver was “high”.

“He was coming to drop me and the other guys home and he was driving really fast like over 100 when he knocked the horse. The horse was in the same lane and then the vehicle just toppled and it hit a couple other things and stopped.”

He related that after the vehicle stopped, he climbed out and there he noticed Richard’s motionless body and the others lying on the road.

They were helped by public-spirited persons. When asked why he allowed the driver to the take the wheels, knowing that he (driver) was under the influence, Gangram said, “I didn’t had to go far, it was only the next village, we all lived close by.”

Gangram sustained injuries to his shoulder, while other two survivors sustained head injuries.

Meanwhile, the mother of Ramesh Preempat said her son had left home to go hang out with friends. She related that it was her birthday and earlier in the day Ramesh spent some time with her.

“Last night me went home and one ah he friend call and tell me he deh
in accident, me go down to the scene and see two body cover up and
then somebody tell me meh son den under one of them sheet.”

In tears, the woman said she could not believe her son is no more.

“Just hours before me see am and he ask me to take out he food, I
don’t know why this happen.”

The stepfather of Rameshwar, Basheer Haniff, said his son had left
to go out with some friends and he received a call later in the
evening saying he was involved in an accident.

Rameshwar suffered received serious trauma to the head and was bleeding through his ears.

The accident comes on the heels as police are intensifying efforts to curb road accidents, which has been on the rise.