Eight killed in road accidents last week

Mar 03, 2025 News

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Kaieteur News- Eight people were killed in separate road accidents last week adding to five the previous week.

Among those persons who perished include: a married couple, 39-year-old Shane Tyndall and 35-year-old Shabeca Gordon; a 32-year-old pedal cyclist Keron DeFreitas; 19-year-old Annalisa Smith, 18-year-old Davenand Bernard; 28-year-old Reion Alphonso; 62 –year –old Leon Marks, and a pedestrian (name currently unknown).

The recent fatalities further highlight the increasing number of deadly accidents on the roadways. In a most recent report, three separate accidents occurred on Friday, resulting in the deaths of DeFreitas, Bernard, Alphonso, Marks, and a pedestrian. Police reported that DeFreitas was killed in a collision with a truck in the Hill Foot area on the Linden-Soesdyke Highway at 18:45h. “Enquiries disclosed that the lorry was proceeding west along the southern drive lane of Hill Foot Road, whilst the pedal cyclist was proceeding in the same direction on the western side of the road, in front of the lorry,” police said.

As the truck was overtaking DeFreitas, the front left portion of the truck struck him, causing him to fall onto the roadway. Subsequently, the front wheel of the truck rolled over the man and his bicycle. DeFreitas, was picked up by public-spirited citizens and rushed to the Diamond Diagnostic Center, where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

The second accident involving two motorcycles and a car on the Essequibo Coast, Region 2, claimed the lives of Bernard from Onderneeming, Essequibo Coast, Alphonso from Lot 660 Charity Extension Scheme, Essequibo Coast, and Marks of Lot 214 Hoppie Street Dartmouth. All victims were on motorcycles. Police reported that Marks and Bernard died at the scene, while Alphonso, who was a pillion rider, succumbed to his injuries while receiving treatment in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at the Suddie Public Hospital.

The driver of the car, a 69-year-old farmer, who is currently in police custody, told authorities   that he was driving north when a motorcycle with bright lights travelling in the opposite direction affected his visibility of the road.  He alleged that due to the impact on his vision he slowed down his car but another motorcycle traveling behind his car overtook him but collided head on with the bright light motorcycle.

“A loud impact and an explosion occurred with both motorcycles, which were then engulfed in flames,” police said. Alphonso was thrown onto the car’s windshield before landing on the road, while Bernard fell near his bike and sustained severe burns on the upper part of his body. Marks and Alphonso was picked up and taken to the Oscar Joseph Hospital. Marks was pronounced dead on arrival while Alphonso was transferred to the Suddie Public Hospital’s ICU where he later died.

A third fatality occurred at Bagotstown, East Bank Demerara (EBD) around 11:11h when a truck struck a pedestrian. The truck, owned by Toolsie Persaud Limited, collided with a male pedestrian attempting to cross the road. Investigations revealed that the truck was heading south along the eastern driving lane of the Bagotstown Public Road when the pedestrian attempted to cross the road from east to west into the path of the lorry and a collision occurred causing both of the pedestrian’s legs to be crushed. The truck driver identified as Wayne McBean, and public-spirited citizens rushed the injured man to the Diamond Diagnostic Center, where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

Last Thursday, the married couple, Tyndall and Gordon died after their vehicle collided with a concrete rail, and flipped several times at Eccles, East Bank Demerara (EBD). The accident occurred at about 08:00h at Haags Bosch main access road (Dump Site Road), Eccles. The couple resides at Lot 609 East Ruimveldt, Georgetown. According to a friend of Gordon, Tyndall was taking her to work at the time of the accident. Police reported that the car which was driven by Tyndall was proceeding east along the northern driving lane of Dump Site road at a fast rate when the driver lost control and collided with a concrete rail on the edge of the road.

“As a result of the collision, the vehicle ‘flipped’ several times and ended up 130 feet further east, in a trench on the northern side of the road and became submerged,” police said. The couple was pinned in the car until public-spirited citizens freed them. However, they were in an unconscious state. The Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs) arrived shortly after, but Tyndall and Gordon were both pronounced dead at the scene.

On Wednesday, 19-year-old Annalisa Smith died after the car she was in crashed into a utility pole at the Berbice River Bridge Access Road, East Canje, Berbice, Region Six. Police said the driver, 21-year-old Clifton Smith, lost control of his car, crashing into a utility pole at 12:20h. Police said, “Initial investigations revealed that the car was proceeding west along the southern drive lane allegedly at a fast rate, when the driver lost control and collided with a utility pole which is situated on the southern side of the road.” Smith, who was seated in the back passenger seat, was transported to the New Amsterdam Public Hospital but was pronounced dead on arrival. The other occupants, Marlyn Jones, Odessa Smith, and Simon Gomes, were treated for their injuries.

Amid growing public concern over road fatalities and reckless driving among other factors, President Irfaan Ali last week signalled potential amendments to Guyana’s traffic laws to tackle what he described as “lawlessness” on the country roadways. His statements were made last Wednesday at the opening of the Annual Officers’ Conference 2025.  President Ali also mentioned his government’s uneasiness with the speeding, inexperienced truck drivers on the roadways.

“While we have seen tremendous improvement, there is a lot that must be done. There’s not a single person in this room who would tell me that there’s not an element of uneasiness if you have to drive to the airport and it’s not during the day, it’s 24/7, the trucks,” President Ali said. Ali also emphasised the importance of societal responsibility in curbing reckless driving, stating that while penalties play a role in enforcement, public consciousness and accountability are crucial. “It’s not the best approach that penalties must drive change. The best approach is that self-consciousness, societal pressure, doing the right thing, should be able to drive change and drive home the point that we have to do the right thing, but unfortunately, when that doesn’t work, you have to go to stronger measures, which are the penalties,” Ali said. Moreover, President Ali called for a holistic approach that includes enforcement, education, infrastructure development, and accountability, alongside investments in road infrastructure and stricter regulations.

(Eight killed in road accidents last week)

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• Eight people, fatalities, married couple, Public spirited citizens, Shane Tyndall

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