Three Porters die after lorry topples on Soesdyke/Linden Highway

Three men died after the lorry they were travelling on toppled along the Soesdyke/Linden Highway late Wednesday night.

Police Headquarters reported that the accident occurred at about 23:30hrs and involved motor lorry GNN 4083 which was being driven by 47-year-old Shawn Lim of Hyde Park, Timehri, East Bank Demerara.

Three porters who were on the motor lorry were identified as Michael Edwards of Timehri Base Road and Wilfred Phillips and Alicious Squad both from the Pomeroon River along the Essequibo Coast.

According to the police report, the motor lorry was proceeding north along the Highway when the driver alleged that he saw something run across the road and he swerved to avoid a collision and lost control of the vehicle.

The left side wheel collided with the barranca causing the vehicle to turn turtle in a nearby ditch.

As a result, the three victims who were all seated on top of some utility poles in the tray of the lorry were pinned at the bottom of the vehicle.

They were assisted by the police and public-spirited citizens and rushed to the Diamond Diagnostic Centre in an unconscious condition where they were pronounced dead.

The bodies were then escorted to the Memorial Gardens Funeral Home.

A breathalyzer test conducted on the driver of the motor lorry returned zero readings. He is in custody pending further inquiries.