Minibus driver confirmed dead in horrific East Bank smash-up

By Isanella Patoir

The route 42 minibus driver (BWW 2940)  in an early morning accident at New Hope on the East Bank of Demerara has been confirmed dead.

He was identified as 59-year-old Oswald Roberts known as 04, who resided at Kurukururu Soesdyke, Linden Highway.

Eyewitnesses told the News Room that the minibus driver was heading to Georgetown when a grey pick up that was heading in the opposite direction, ended up in his lane resulting in a head-on collision at around 06:30hrs.

The pick-up driver of North East Lusignan on the East Coast of Demerara and the female passenger, Ashley Persuad were the only persons in the pick-up which has the marking ‘get rich or die trying’ on the front windscreen. They both received injuries and were taken to the Mercy Hospital.

Eyewitnesses claimed that the driver of the pick-up reeked of alcohol and was reportedly speeding at the time of the accident.

“The driver for the cruiser, he was drinking alcohol I believe cause he was smelling high and the girl was inside his cruiser, I believe she hand break,” an eyewitness, who prefers to remain anonymous told the News Room.

Persons at the scene claimed that the minibus driver tried to swerve from the pickup.

“I was the first person went to the bus, I went and see if everybody was alright and the driver he went in a real state and the passengers on his side was pinned down for actually one hour and a half.”

All of the passengers were taken to the Diamond Diagnostic Centre by public-spirited persons and subsequently transferred to the Georgetown Public Hospital where they are being treated.

Meanwhile, another eyewitness who identified himself as Terry said the pickup driver grazed his motorcycle and overtook another vehicle before crashing into the minibus.

The injured passengers were identified as 48-year-old Andre King, two sisters 23-year-old Sheena Chin and 24-year-old Gina Chin, 69-year-old Glixman Adams, 28-year-old John Cheddie and 29-year-old Murrissa McPherson, 35-year-old Tatema Murray, 30-year-old Cherryan Millington, T. Deolall a 42-year-old. All of these passengers are from Kuru Kururu on the Soesdyke Linden Highway and 22-year-old Dave Taylor from Laluni Creek.

Police Headquarters said that some of the passengers had to undergo emergency surgery.