Friendship accident claims third life

Seventy-seven-year-old Sydney Ragnauth, one of the victims who was injured in Sunday’s accident on the Friendship Public Road, East Bank Demerara, has succumbed to his injuries.

The News Room was informed that Ragnauth, a resident of Kuru Kururu, Soesdyke-Linden Highway, died while receiving medical treatment at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) at around 11:15hrs Monday.

Ragnauth is the third person to have died in the accident.

The two other victims- Keon Edwards called ‘Proctor’ and ‘Mad Dog’ and Alvin Jones, 51 of Tuschen, East Bank Essequibo- were pronounced dead at the Diamond Hospital shortly after the accident.

The accident occurred around 08:30hrs on December 10.

The deceased, along with seven other persons, were all occupants of minibus, BYY 7440, which was driven by Edwards.

Reports are that the minibus was heading north along the Public Road, at a fast rate of speed when Edwards allegedly overtook a line of traffic.

During the process, the minibus collided with an incoming motorcar, PAD 3102, pushing it further into another vehicle, PXX 5169.

As a result of the collision, the driver lost control and the bus turned turtle several times.

The passengers were flung out of the minibus before it came to a halt on the western parapet of the road.

The injured were all taken to the Diamond Hospital where they were treated.

While some of them were admitted, others were transferred to the GPHC for further medical attention.

As of Monday, five of the injured persons were discharged while the other two remained hospitalised.

Police have obtained CCTV footage which captured the accident.