THE driver of a car died after his vehicle crashed into an old fridge on the Number 59 Corentyne Public Road early Wednesday morning.

Dead is Reoul Drepal-Saul, 20. Another occupant of the vehicle, Akesha Beaton, 18, both of #51 Village Corentyne was injured. In a release, the police said the driver of motor car PVV 1120 which crashed into an abandoned refrigerator that was on the #59 Public Road, Corentyne,Berbice around 06:40hrs on Wednesday succumbed to his injuries whilst receiving medical attention at the New Amsterdam Hospital; the female occupant is admitted in a serious condition.

Enquiries disclosed that the vehicle driven by Drepal-Saul was proceeding north along the western carriageway of the road when it collided with the refrigerator. As a result of the impact, the driver lost control of the vehicle which reportedly toppled several times before it came to a halt in a western drain. They were first taken to the Skeldon Public Hospital where they were treated and transferred to the New Amsterdam Hospital. An investigation is in progress.

Arlene North, Saul’s mother, told the Guyana Chronicle that he had left to drop off a relative and was returning home when the accident occurred. “When I get the call early this morning I was shocked; I could not move, I can’t even find clothes to put on. My cousins and other family had to help me, when I reach I nearly faint… I can’t believe he is gone just like that.”

The accident occurred near where five persons lost their lives in October last year in another accident and persons recalled having to remove concrete blocks and other items that were blocking the roadway to prevent other vehicles from suffering a similar fate. This publication understands that Saul hit the refrigerator then slammed into a bridge culvert before losing control and toppling several times and finally landing in a nearby trench.
A resident recalled hearing a loud impact and after venturing outside, she saw a crowd gathered as persons assisted in taking the injured out of the vehicle. Saul, who works in the construction industry was at the time driving his silver-coloured Toyota Premio, PVV 1120; he was heading north to his home in Number 51 Village. He was last seen alive by family members on Christmas night when the family held a dinner and was his usual jovial self.

He was the main breadwinner for his mother and leaves to mourn a sister and his parents. His mother described him as a respectable person who got along with everyone. She is calling on the police to do conduct diligent investigations and bring those responsible for her son’s death to justice. The badly mangled vehicle and old fridge were taken to the #51 Police station compound around noon when several friends and relatives gathered.

When the tractor came to a stop at the station gate, loud screams erupted from the home of Saul’s aunt located obliquely opposite the police station where the family had gathered. Many others started to hurl expletives in anger that such a promising young man had lost his life in such a manner.

Meanwhile, Beaton who hails from Cromarty village also on the Corentyne, remains a patient at the New Amsterdam Hospital nursing injuries to her head and leg. This publication was told earlier in the night that someone in the community who had been consuming alcohol placed the refrigerator and other debris across the public road. Meanwhile, when contacted, Commander of ‘B’ Division Paul Langevine related that the matter is currently being investigated and all information received is being followed.