Road deaths mar Christmas holidays

Dec 27, 2008 News

– UG student, pensioner, former footballer killed

A University of Guyana student, a pensioner and a former footballer were killed in separate road accidents which occurred between Christmas Day and Boxing Day.

Dead: Former footballer Selwyn Bailey

For 26-year-old UG student Kellon Griffith, of Atlantic Ville, East Coast Demerara, a Christmas Day outing with two friends ended tragically, at around 04:00 hrs yesterday, when the vehicle in which they were travelling overturned on the Rupert Craig Highway, in the vicinity of the Celina’s Resort.

While the circumstances surrounding the accident are sketchy, police reports stated that motor vehicle PJJ 2916 was being driven at a fast rate by 20-year-old Kurt Persaud, of 119 John Street, Campbellville, with passengers Kellon Griffith and Gerald Harry, 20, of South Vryheid’s Lust, ECD. The driver lost control of the vehicle which crashed into a metal rail and turned turtle. All three occupants received injuries and were taken to the Guyana Public Hospital Corporation where Griffith was pronounced dead on arrival, while Persaud and Harry were admitted.

Persons in the vicinity of the accident said that they had heard a loud crashing sound. They rushed to investigate, saw the mangled vehicle outside, and immediately rushed the occupants to the hospital.

Griffith is said have succumbed from massive head injuries.

According to Griffith’s mother, Mary Griffith, her son left the family’s Atlantic Ville, East Coast Demerara home in a dark-coloured car, at around 21:30 hrs on Christmas Day.

She said that she was awakened some hours later by a knocking on her door.

Dead: UG student Kellon Griffith

Upon opening it, she saw the same friends with whom her son had left earlier, who informed her of the tragedy.

The victim’s sister, Kellisa Griffith, told Kaieteur News that she had always urged her brother not to travel in the vehicle.

“But he would say that his friend can drive, and end the conversation,” she lamented.

And at around 01:00 hr on Christmas Day, popular drinks vendor and former footballer Selwyn Bailey, 45, was killed on the spot when a route 41 minibus slammed into Bailey’s drinks stall at Joseph Pollydore and Chapel Streets, Lodge.

Eyewitnesses said that Bailey, who had been selling since Christmas Eve Day, was preparing to leave for home when the driver of minibus BJJ 4851 lost control and ploughed into his (Bailey’s) stall.

After hitting Bailey, the minibus ended up in the Joseph Pollydore Street canal, while the red cooler in which Bailey stored his beverages, along with several bottles of aerated drink, lay in the trench a few feet away from his body.

When this newspaper arrived at the dead man’s residence, Lot 7 Joseph Pollydore Street, Lodge, most of its occupants were in tears. Bailey’s reputed wife, Shawndelle Sergeant, said that she had shared a six-year union with Bailey, during which they operated the stall on Joseph Pollydore Street. She said that, on the night of the accident, she had remained at home to put up the decorations for the holidays, while Bailey operated the stall.

She said that, just after Christmas Day broke, a neighbour telephoned to inform her of an accident that had occurred in the vicinity of their business place.

After hitting Bailey, the minibus ended up in the canal on Joseph Pollydore Street, Lodge.

“She just told me that there was an accident by the stall, but she was not certain if Selwyn was involved,” a tearful Sergeant related. She said that she hurriedly dressed, and was about to go and find out when the neighbour called once again to confirm that Bailey was indeed dead. Still in doubt, Sergeant said, she rushed to the hospital, only to have her worst fears confirmed.

Meanwhile, the driver of the minibus was taken into custody at the Brickdam Police Station while the police carry out investigations.

And on Christmas Eve evening, 68-year-old Watson Joseph perished after he was struck by a motor car on the Number Five Village Main Road at about 18:35 hours.

According to the police, investigations have so far revealed that Joseph was riding his bicycle along the roadway when he was struck from behind by a motor car, which drove away.

He was taken to the Fort Wellington Hospital by public-spirited persons, where he died while receiving medical attention.

The police did not say if any one has been arrested up to press time yesterday.

And 32-year-old Sheldon Cheddi is lucky to have survived a three-vehicle smash-up, which occurred at around 01:00 hr on Christmas Day on the Diamond Public Road, East Bank Demerara.

According to reports, Cheddi, of Lot 106 East Ruimveldt Housing Scheme,
was driving motor car PLL 912 north along the East Bank Demerara public road when a pickup, PGG 5353, which was heading in the opposite direction, struck another car before slamming into the vehicle that Cheddi and two others were in.

Cheddi was rushed to the nearby Diamond Diagnostic Centre, where X-ray examinations revealed that he had suffered a broken arm and fractured ribs.

He has since been transferred to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation’s High Dependency Unit.
The driver of the pickup, who is reportedly 19 years old, was detained.