Woman, 44, killed in Bagotstown smash-up

May 27, 2016 News

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A horrific collision between two minibuses at Bagotstown, East Bank Demerara (EBD), in the vicinity of the Demerara Harbour Bridge, claimed the life of a 44-year-old mother of three early yesterday morning.

The victim has been identified as Roxanne Mitchell of 2426 Farm, East Bank Essequibo.
The accident occurred around 01:30 hrs, just as the woman and her husband, Peter Mitchell were heading home from the flag-raising ceremony held at D’Urban Park on Wednesday night.
A route 42 minibus reportedly slammed into the left side of the route 32 bus in which the Mitchells were travelling.
According to information received, Roxanne Mitchell was sitting in the front seat of the vehicle and her body went partly through the front windscreen as a result of the impact.
The other vehicle, according to her husband, then slammed into her as more than half her body was hanging outside the bus.
Firefighters eventually removed the woman from between the two mangled vehicles and rushed her to the Diamond Diagnostic centre where she was pronounced dead on arrival.
Two other persons sustained minor injuries as a result of the accident—Michael Thorne, the driver of the route 42 minibus and his brother, Jivonski.
Up to press time, Michael Thorne was a patient at the Georgetown Public Hospital, under police guard. His brother was treated and sent away.
Police have reportedly received two versions of what transpired.

Michael Thorne’s relatives claimed that he was heading to the city when a car, which was about to turn to go over the Harbour Bridge, stopped at the intersection to allow him to proceed straight.
However, the minibus in which the Mitchells were travelling was behind that car and overtook the vehicle when it stopped, and ended up colliding with Thorne’s bus which was heading straight to the city.
Meanwhile, the other version is that Michael Thorne was speeding and when the traffic signal changed to allow vehicles to go over the bridge, the route 32 minibus was just about to turn when Thorne jumped the traffic signal and crashed into the bus.
At the Mitchells’ residence late yesterday, her husband was inconsolable. While fighting to hold back tears, he said that his wife of 24 years wanted to go to the flag-raising ceremony and since she never attended one before, he didn’t refuse to take her, even though he did not want to go.
“A bus from the village took us there and we arranged with that same bus to take us back home when it done,” the man said. He recounted that on their way back home, a Timehri bus collided with their bus when it was now turning.
“The bus from Timehri was speeding. I saw this bus coming in full speed and I say this is an accident and I decided to hold on. My wife was sitting to my right and when the bus got hit, half of her body was out the window. The bus turn on her and then slide,” Peter Mitchell said.
He explained that he tried to lift the bus, but was unable to remove her body. “I called for her, but she didn’t respond.”
“The ambulance took long to come. The firemen had to remove her and take her to the hospital. At the hospital, they didn’t want to tell me she died, it was when they covered her then I know.”

With tears running down his face, he said that his wife was one of the kindest and loving women he had ever met.
“My wife was faithful and loving. I tried to give her everything. We were happy,” Peter cried and whispered, “She is not dead. She is here. She is somewhere here.”

Meanwhile, Joseph Thorne, the route 42 driver’s father bashed the police for having his unconscious son (Michael Thorne) waiting in a car outside the Providence Station for several hours before he was allowed to seek medical attention.
The man explained that after the accident, his son was taken to the Diamond Hospital and was later transferred to the Georgetown Hospital where he was then discharged.
“When the hospital discharged my son, he was vomiting and couldn’t move. We took him to Woodlands and while going to the hospital, the police sent out a radio message to stop the car that we were in,” the older Thorne said.
He further explained that when they reached the hospital, the police followed them.
“The doctor there recommended a CT scan, but we didn’t get to do it, because the police were determined to take my son to the police station.”
Joseph Thorne said that he eventually had to take his son there without having the CT scan done. He explained that he had to park and waited in front of the station for more than three hours before he could have gotten permission to take his son back to the hospital for a thorough examination.

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