Two die in bus and Tundra smash-up

Feb 04, 2013 News

– twelve injured

Two persons were pronounced dead at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation late last evening following a smash-up between a route 44 minibus and a Toyota Tundra pickup on the Mon Repos Public Road, East Coast Demerara. The crash occurred around 21:30 hours. The two dead persons have been identified as 37 year-old Senior Mistress of the Beteverwagting/Quamina Primary School, Shondell Yaw and driver of the

Injured: 27 year-old Dully Singh

minibus, Godfrey Gilbert Daniels, who hails from Berbice. Ten other persons, mostly passengers from the minibus BMM 8260 were up to press time still being treated at the GPHC for injuries they sustained. At least two other persons were removed and taken to Private medical institutions for treatment.
Those injured have been identified as Deborah Bennett, 46 of Victoria, East Coast Demerara; Wayne Reynolds, 50; his father Eldon Reynolds, who is said to be in his 70’s; Dully Singh, 27 of Vreed-en-Hoop; Krystal Clarke of Alberttown; Police Constable Nigel Roach; Marcel Fitzalbert of Festival City; Janel Nichol; Krystel Seeram and Savitri Mohandas.
Reports are that the minibus was heading toward the city when the pick-up reportedly turned out from a street onto the main road and crashed head on into the minibus.
An eyewitness told this publication that after the pick-up turned onto the main road, it went full speed into the minibus’s lane, resulting in the collision.
Within minutes, persons, who were in close proximity, raced to the minibus to pull the injured persons out of the badly mangled vehicle. Persons at the scene said from all indications, the driver of the Tundra was under the influence of alcohol.
“As soon as people hear the noise, I see a lady rush out of she house and buss the minibus trunk and start pulling out people and trying to get them to the hospital,” one eyewitness recalled.
Another eyewitness said that as public spirited citizens assisted the injured out of the minibus, the conductor who appeared badly injured fell out of the vehicle and was placed into a vehicle. However, it is not clear which

Injured: Deborah Bennett

medical institution he was taken to.
Meanwhile, as news of the accident spread, scores turned up at the Georgetown Public Hospital to find out the fate of their loved ones. Hospital staffers appeared overwhelmed as the crowd grew, with persons flocking the Accident and Emergency Unit trying to get a glimpse of their injured relatives. However, only those who seemed critical were taken in for immediate treatment while others sat in the triage area screaming in pain.
About 30 minutes later, news emerged that the driver of the minibus had succumbed. Some of the man’s close friends wept uncontrollably as their worst fears were confirmed. Reports are that the dead man’s wife had been informed about the accident. Soon after, word of another death greeted anxious relatives who had gathered in the hospital’s compound.
One woman ran out of the Accident and Emergency Unit screaming after confirming that her sister, Shondell Yaw had died.
“I come here long, long looking fuh me sister and nobody ain’t tell me anything and now I know that she dead,” a woman identified as Allana Yaw lamented.
This publication was told that Yaw of Paradise, East Coast Demerara was on her way to the Georgetown Seawall to spend time with some friends and other relatives.
All of the passengers who spoke to this newspaper could not recall what happened since they claimed that they were asleep.
Meanwhile, the driver of the pick-up who escaped with minor cuts and bruises has been detained and is assisting with investigations.