–driver in custody

A LORRY driver is currently in police custody following a fatal accident at Ogle, East Coast Demerara, which claimed the life of 63-year-old security guard, Patricia Hutson, early Sunday morning.

According to a police release, the accident occurred at around 06:30hrs, and involved Motor Lorry #GAE 8189, driven by a 26-year-old male of Supply, East Bank Demerara, and Hutson, of 13th Avenue, Diamond Housing Scheme, East Bank Demerara.

“The lorry driver alleges that he was proceeding east along the southern driving lane of the northern carriageway on Ogle Public Road when he saw the traffic light in his direction change from green to amber, then red. On seeing this, he tried to apply brakes, but did not get any (the vehicle failed to stop),” the release said.

As a result, the driver told the police, he changed lane from the southern to the northern side of the road, where the lorry’s back wheel collided with Hutson, who had moments before disembarked a minibus and was waiting to cross the road.

Due to the collision, Hutson fell onto the road’s surface, causing her to sustain injuries to her head and body. She was picked up in a semi-conscious state and rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation, where she was seen and examined by a doctor and admitted as a patient in the Emergency Unit. However, she succumbed to her injuries about two hours later.

The body is at the GPHC’s Mortuary awaiting a post-mortem examination, while
the driver of the lorry is currently in police custody assisting with the investigation.