Three months after that gruesome accident along the Agricola Public Road, East Bank Demerara, which claimed the life of 7-year-old Ciara Benjamin, the truck driver was on Wednesday charged for causing her death.
Danion Welcome, 39 of Turkeyen, East Coast Demerara appeared before the Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan and pleaded not guilty to the charge which alleged that on June 1, 2019, at Agricola Public Road, he drove motor lorry GWW 962 in a dangerous manner which resulted in the death of Benjamin.
Welcome was represented by Attorney-at-law James Bond who told the court that the victim’s family had reached out to his client for support but Welcome is unable to work because his truck was set on fire by persons at the scene of the accident on the day in question.
Bond is also contending that the father of four is slated to undergo surgery in an area close to his brain due to injuries he received from persons at the accident scene.
Police Prosecutor Gordon Mansfield told the court that on the day in question, at about 16:10hrs, Welcome was heading north along the western carriageway along the Agricola public road at a fast rate of speed when he lost control of the motor lorry.
The child was pinned under the truck and her body was crushed. She died instantly.
Mansfield made no objection to bail but requested the conditions be attached.
The Chief Magistrate suspended Welcome’s driver’s licence and released him on $500,000 bail. The matter is adjourned to September 23, 2019.
