Truck driver gets five years for Mandela fatal accident

Aslom Masood, the sand truck driver involved in the horrific Mandela Avenue smashup, which claimed the life of businessman Nigel Cush, was on Thursday sentenced to five years imprisonment after pleading guilty to the crime.

Masood, 44, of Supply, Mahaica, East Coast Demerara appeared before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court.

He admitted that on September 9, at the junction of Mandela Avenue and Vlissengen Road, he drove the truck (GYY 5875) in a dangerous manner which resulted in the death of Cush.

The unrepresented man apologised for his action, as he told the court that on the day in question he was speeding and lost control of his vehicle.

The Chief Magistrate sentenced Masood to five years behind bars and told him that due to his recklessness, a life was lost.

According to police reports, on the day in question, Masood was speeding along the northern carriageway on Mandela Avenue while Cush proceeded south along Vlissengen Road.

However, Masood failed to stop at the traffic light, which was given the go-ahead signal for Cush.

As Cush drove across the road, Masood’s truck collided into him.

As a result, Cush’s car slammed into a stop light pole and due to the impact, he was flung through the front windscreen of the car and died at the scene.

He was placed into an ambulance and taken to the Georgetown Public Hospital where he was pronounced dead.