Three perish in Craig accident after lorry, car collide during ‘U-Turn’

An accident Monday night on the Craig Public Road, East Bank Demerara (EBD) has left three persons dead.

The accident involved motor lorry #GYY 9560, driven by Tyrese Bess, a 21-year-old of Mocha, EBD and motor car #PPP 3034, driven by Stanley  La Cruise, a 57-year-old resident of Mon Repos pasture, East Coast Demerara.

Police Headquarters reported that La Cruise was proceeding along the eastern side of Craig Public Road with five others in the vehicle, three adults and two children.

Police gave the adult names as Eric Christopher Thomas, 60, Annette Williams, 56, and Lynette Chapel (age unknown); the two children are ages seven and 13.

All of the occupants of the car are said to be from the Charity Squatting area, Essequibo.

La Cruise is alleged to have made a  ‘U-Turn’ from the eastern driving lane onto the western driving lane and, in the process, collided with the motor lorry.

As a result of the collision, all of the occupants of the car received injuries on their bodies. They were all taken to the Diamond Diagnostic Centre along with La Cruise.

Thomas and Williams died at the scene and Chapel died subsequently while receiving treatment at the Diamond Hospital.

Their bodies were later taken to the  Memorial Gardens Funeral Home for storage and are awaiting post-mortem examinations.

The two children and the La Cruise were treated for minor injuries and sent away.

Police said one eyewitness came forward and gave a statement. Both drivers were administered breathalyzer tests, and no trace of alcohol was detected in their system.

The lorry and the car were lodged at the Police station to be examined. Both drivers are presently in Police custody, assisting with the ongoing investigation.