Teenager critical after truck crashes into yard

Aug 31, 2008 News

Doctors at the Georgetown Hospital are battling to save the life of 15-year-old Akeela Marshall, who was struck down when a truck ran off the Main East Coast Demerara Highway in the vicinity of Friendship yesterday morning.

This is where the truck ended up after hitting two pedestrians.

Marshall was one of two persons rushed to the hospital following the accident. However, the other person, 19-year-old Trevlon Amsterdam, was treated and sent away.
Reports reaching this newspaper stated that, at around 07:20 hours, Marshall and Amsterdam were standing on the Main East Coast Highway awaiting transportation when a truck heading west along the main road suddenly came speeding towards them. Before the two could make it to safety, the truck slammed into them then careening into a nearby yard.
The injured persons were immediately rushed to the hospital, while the driver was subsequently detained.
The truck driver reportedly told investigators that, while he was trying to navigate a narrow bridge which joins the villages of Vigilance and Friendship, another vehicle proceeding in the opposite direction veered into his path.
He said that he tried to avoid colliding with the approaching vehicle and lost control of the truck.
When this newspaper visited the hospital, late yesterday afternoon, Marshall was still in the operating theatre and medical personnel were slightly optimistic that she will survive.