Road fatalities record slight decline

Jul 04, 2010 News

By Latoya Giles

The number of accidents for this year has seen a decrease when compared to the same period last year, Traffic Chief Neil Semple has said.

Sharyn Denny

Mr. Hermon Wade

Semple said the traffic department said some accidents could be avoided, but because of recklessness and speeding they nevertheless happen.

Semple said that for 2009, a total of 48 accidents happened which resulted in the death of 53 persons, including six children.

The statistics show that as of June 30, 2010 there was a 10 per cent decrease in the number of road fatalities. Semple said that records show that 48 persons died on our roadways, among them four children.

May 2009 was the most deadly month. Thirteen persons perished on the roadways, in comparison to April this year, so far the most deadly month in 2010, which saw 11 persons being killed on the roadways.

A total of 177 serious accidents happened during the first half of last year, compared to 158 for the corresponding period this year.

Minor accidents recorded a 37 percent drop this year. Last year, 267 minor accidents happened compared to this year’s 168.

The Traffic Chief, when questioned about the increased presence of traffic ranks, said even with more ranks, people still have the responsibility to be cautious.

Semple explained that passengers would see and know that a driver had been consuming alcohol and still allow that person to get behind the wheel.

Semple further told this newspaper that there were accidents because of people’s disregard for traffic laws.

“A person may see a stop or a no parking sign…and yet that person would do the opposite which might result in an accident,” Semple posited.

Over the past week, 15 persons were involved in vehicular accidents, which may have been caused by speeding.

On Sunday last, Police Corporal Sharyn Denny lost his life as the vehicle in which he was traveling was struck from behind by a drunk driver.

The driver who was later identified as 29-year-old Walraven Joseph, did not have a valid driver’s license at the time of the accident.

Joseph was also charged with being under the influence of alcohol and also for not having enough insurance for a third party.

On Thursday two Kwakwani residents were killed in a vehicle after a pickup slammed into a minibus.

Rusal employee Herman Wade, called Toots, and Terry Budhburg of Lamp Island both died of massive head injuries.

Fifteen other persons were also injured as a result of the accident, these included George Shakespeare, 43, Glendon Shakespeare, Clive Lagadoo, 41, Otis Conway, 36, and Mark Adams, 37, 10-year-old Sherwyn Sealey, Lindon Barkoye, Shefton Jones, Raymond Welshman and Lambert Daniels.

The survivors of the smash-up have all blamed the pickup driver for the tragedy.