DeSinco boss critical, firemen injured after collision

Oct 22, 2012 News

Doctors at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) were up to late last night working feverishly to save the life of prominent businessman Frank De Abreu, Managing Director of Desinco Trading and Home Décor, whose car was involved in an accident at the junction of Irving and Lamaha Streets.
De Abreu’s car, PHH 9488, collided with a fire tender that was reportedly responding to a grass fire in Non-Pariel, East Coast Demerara.
The accident occurred around 9:30hrs.
This newspaper understands that the fire tender slammed into De Abreu’s Honda which was heading east along Lamaha Street. The fire tender was heading north along Irving Street.
The traffic lights at the intersection were not working at the time of the accident.
After the collision, the driver of the fire tender, in an effort to avoid other impacts, steered the vehicle into a nearby canal.
Four fire fighters were in the fire tender at the time.
Although one of them, the driver identified as Marlon Wilson, sustained severe injuries to the head, shoulder, neck and eye, three other firefighters sustained minor injuries and were treated at the hospital and subsequently sent away.
Well placed sources at GPHC disclosed that Wilson’s condition is not critical but he was scheduled to do X- Rays after he complained of severe discomfort to the neck and shoulder.
Scores were at the scene of the accident; some just inquisitive onlookers, while others aided in getting the victims out of the vehicles. De Abreu was pinned in his car and subsequently underwent a successful general surgery after he was rushed to the hospital.
Hospital sources listed his condition as critical as doctors were able to control his massive internal bleeding.
Doctors were speculating the need for them undergo a brain surgery.
Further information indicated that all De Abreu’s vital signs were in working order and he was responsive to various “pokes” from doctors.
He was taken to St Joseph Marcy Hospital to undergo a CT scan. This newspaper understands that he was then taken back to GPHC’s ICU where he remains.
The De Sinco Trading owner was reportedly making his way home after checking up on ongoing rehabilitation works at Guyana’s top school Queen’s College since he had recently donated $1.5M for the aforementioned purpose.
The scene at the hospital was solemn as relatives, employees, customers and close friends of the businessman congregated quietly; anxiously awaiting word on his condition.
The businessman’s relatives were seen holding hands in an attempt to comfort each other and were trying to “keep the faith.”
High standing members of society were also at the hospital lending moral support.
The fire tender has since been retrieved from the trench. This newspaper understands that the tender was purchased in 2009 at a cost of $7M.
The entire vehicle was submerged which resulted in the electrical set up being damaged.
Fire Chief, Marlon Gentle told this newspaper that checks are being made to ascertain the extent of the damage to the vehicle.
Gentle said he became saddened upon hearing news of the mishap as De Abreu is a friend of his. He noted however, that drivers need to be more responsive to sirens as the law states that drivers should pull in the corner whenever hearing the siren of an ambulance, police vehicle or fire tender.
He added that from the information he received, De Abreu made an attempt to proceed across the major road even after he saw the fire tender, which had its siren on at the time.