FOUR persons lost their lives on Monday night in a fatal accident that took place on the Craig public road, East Bank Demerara (EBD), which is currently being investigated by the police.

The accident involved motor lorry with registration GYY 9560, owned by Dexter Bess of Nelson Street Mocha, EBD, and driven at the time by Tyrese Bess, a 21-year-old of the said address, and motor car with registration PPP 3034 owned and driven by Stanley La Cruise, a 57-year-old resident of Mon Repos pasture, East Coast Demerara.

Enquiries disclosed that motor car PPP 3034 was proceeding South along the eastern side of the Craig public road with La Cruise at the wheel and six others in the vehicle (four adults and two children), namely: Eric Christopher Thomas, age 60 years, Annette Williams, age 56 years, and Lynette Chappelle (age unknown), Ivette Domingo of Mon Repos East Coast Demerara, and the two children — ages seven and 13. Most of the occupants of the car are from the Charity Squatting area, Essequibo.

The driver of the car, La Cruise, is alleged to have made a ‘U-Turn’ from the eastern driving lane onto the western driving lane and, in the process, collided with motor lorry GYY 9560, which was proceeding North along the western side of the said road.

As a result of the collision, all of the occupants of the car received injuries on their bodies. They were all taken to the Diamond Diagnostic Centre. They were all seen and examined by a doctor on duty.

Eric Christopher Thomas, Annette Williams, Ivette Domingo and Lynette Chappelle died (the first two died at the scene while Domingo and Chapel died while receiving treatment). Their bodies were later taken to the Memorial Gardens Funeral Home for storage, awaiting a post-mortem examination.

The two children (ages seven and 13) and the driver were treated for minor injuries and sent away.

Ivette Domingo of Mon Repos, a mother of four children who recently returned from Venezuela is said to be the wife of the driver and was heading to Grove, EBD when the car was involved in the accident.

Further, Annette Williams was a vendor and she left Region Two Thursday last to attend cricket with her daughter Lynette Chappelle. Chappelle was pregnant at the time of the accident.

The scene was visited by Inspector Ramdas, Sergeant Muhammad and other ranks at about 21:20 hours; statement and measurements were taken.

One eyewitness came forward and gave a statement. Both drivers were administered breathalyzer tests, and no trace of alcohol was detected in their system.

The lorry and the car were lodged at the Police station to be examined. Both drivers are currently in Police custody, assisting with the ongoing investigation.