Friendship accident: Fourth victim dies on his 31st birthday

A fourth passenger has died following Sunday’s horrific accident involving a speeding minibus on the Friendship Public Road, East Bank Demerara (EBD).

The deceased has been identified as Dexter LaRose of Kuru Kururu, Linden-Soesdyke Highway.

Dexter’s sister, Dunna LaRose told the News Room that he died around 01:15 hrs on Tuesday while receiving medical attention at the Georgetown Public Hospital (GPH).

Dexter sustained broken legs and internal bleeding. He underwent emergency surgery.

“Only thing, he could not remember anything like. He keep asking where he was. We went there yesterday afternoon (Monday)…and he ‘I am coming home tomorrow’…He kept going and coming. Like one minute, he tell you he feel pain, next minute he ask you ‘where am I, what I am doing here’,” Dunna related.

Dexter was a construction worker who was on his way to work at the time of the accident.

“All he said he could remember is that the guy was speeding. That’s all…he can’t remember anything else,” Dunna said.

The grieving woman said the death of her brother has left the family in a state of shock since he had given them all hope of returning home soon.

“It’s not easy at the moment because I went there, I talk to him. He looked a little good yesterday (Monday) afternoon,” she wept.

Dexter would have celebrated his 31^st birthday today.

The accident which occurred around 08:30hrs on December 10 claimed the lives of three other persons. They were all passengers inside the minibus.

They are Sydney Ragnauth, 77; the driver, Keon Edwards called ‘Proctor’ and ‘Mad Dog’ and Alvin Jones, 51 of Tuschen, East Bank Essequibo.

Ragnauth died around 11:15 hrs Monday while receiving medical treatment at the GPH. The two other victims- – were pronounced dead at the Diamond Hospital shortly after the accident.

Reports are that the minibus was heading north along the public road at a fast rate when Edwards allegedly overtook a line of traffic when he collided with an incoming car, 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 taken to the Diamond Hospital where they were treated. While some of them were admitted, others were transferred to the GPH for further medical attention.

As of Monday, five of the injured persons were discharged.