Driver charged with death of Linden brothers one year later

A 27-year-old Truck Driver was on Tuesday, October 31 charged with the fatal accident which claimed the lives of two brothers, 28-year-old Jonnel and Phillip Armstrong, 25, on the Friendship Public Road, East Bank Demerara in 2016.

Ganshan Ramdas of Tushen Housing Scheme, East Bank Essequibo denied the two charges of causing death by dangerous driving when it was read to him by Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan at the Georgetown Magistrate’s Court.

Particulars of both charges alleged that Ramdass on October 1, 2016, at Friendship Public Road, drove motor lorry GNN  5355 in a dangerous manner which resulted in the death of the two siblings.

Attorney-at-law Paul Fung-a-Fat represented Ramdas and told the court that his client was placed on $50,000 station bail by the police. The lawyer further pointed out that the other parties were speeding on the way roadway and ended up in the path of the truck.

The Magistrate, with no objection raised by Police Prosecutor Arwin Moore, released Ramdas on $200,000 bail on each charge. The matter was adjourned to November 16, 2017.

Police had noted that the accident occurred at 14:00 hrs between a Toyota Rav4 PLL 9830 and the truck; both vehicles were heading in opposite directions when they collided in the vicinity of a turn at Friendship, East Bank Demerara.

Police also noted that there were three passengers in the Rav4 and one brother was sitting directly behind the other when the accident occurred. The other person was hospitalized and later discharged.

The siblings were the sons of the Region 10 Regional Health Officer, Dr Pansy Armstrong and veteran dentist Joseph Armstrong.