President David Granger on Wednesday said that Police Officers were warned about speeding on the roadways after the findings of a Commission of Inquiry (COI) was completed into the deadly accident at Friendship, East Bank Demerara last month which involved a Police vehicle.
Speaking with the media at the sidelines of an event at the Ministry of the Presidency, the Commander in Chief said that the findings of the CoI showed that the police car was speeding at the time of the accident, which he said was unnecessary at the time.
The horrific accident occurred early on October 15 and resulted in the death of five persons.
“There is clear evidence that the police vehicle was driving at an excessive rate, which was not necessary at the time. He wasn’t part of my convoy, the road was clear, there were no obstacles and I don’t want to name names but there is an element of culpability,” the President said.
The President said he will be meeting with Commissioner of Police Leslie James to discuss the way forward in this regard.
According to the Head of State, the Police Commissioner has already enforced some amount of action in terms of traffic regulations.
The President is encouraging that persons be more vigilant on the roadways especially during the Christmas period.
“The Police have been warned and I expect that there is going to be more care, not only for human life on the roads but also care of the vehicles.”
President Granger had said in October that steps will also be taken to ensure that regulations, Standing Operating Procedures, inspections and the careful selection and training of drivers are measures that would be put in place so as to prevent a recurrence.
“I think it was a great strategy and if I can say so, it was an accident that ought not to have happened,” the President said.
On the morning of the accident, four of the five victims killed were related and were travelling in one car.
They are Special Constable, Lovern Stoby – a mother of four – of Third Street, Friendship; her nephew who was also the driver of the car, Leon Tucker and their neighbours – 58-year-old Herbert Josiah and his wife 57-year-old Denise Josiah.
CCTV footage of the horrific head-on collision shows when the Police escort vehicle slammed into the car.
Presidential Guard Ronnel Barker of Beterverwagting, East Coast Demerara was the driver of the police vehicle and also died in the accident.
Two persons managed to survive; they are Travis Fullington, a Police Lance Corporal who was in the escort vehicle and Treisha London, who was in the private car.
