2 dead, 2 critical after 3-vehicle collision at Coverden, EBD

Two persons, including a 15-year-old girl, was killed in the wee hours of Sunday, while two others are critical foll

owing a three-vehicle collision at Coverden Public Road, East Bank Demerara (EBD).

The dead are Rudolph Bess, 22, of Lot 220 Kaneville, EBD and Hansranie Persaud, 15, of Grove Housing Scheme, EBD.
Those injured are Jason Baskarran, 23, of Track “B” Timehri Public Road, EBD and Yolanda Fraser-Patterson, 42, of Paradise Village, EBD.
Both Baskarran and Fraser-Patterson are in critical condition at the Georgetown Public Hospital. Fraser-Patterson, according to information received, suffered head injuries and lacerations to the body, while the still-unconscious Baskarran suffered severe head injuries.
Reports are the now dead persons were heading home on a “scrambler” 125 motorcycle bearing registration number PH 378 from a lime in Soesdyke.
Baskarran was reportedly returning home in his jeep bearing registration number PHH 8034 after attending a wedding at Versailles, West Bank Demerara, while Fraser-Patterson was heading home with her husband, Joseph Patterson, after dropping off a relative at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport. She was driving motor car PMM 9768.
Information reaching this newspaper stated that the accident occurred about 03:50h in the vicinity of the Kaylee Service Station,

Coverden.
Guyana Times understands that the driver of the jeep allegedly swerved from a drop in the road next to a culvert and reportedly collided with the motorcycle and the car which were heading in the opposite direction.
The motorcycle was sandwiched by the car and the jeep.
As a result, both Bess and Persaud received immense injuries and parts of their bodies were torn off.
When this newspaper visited the scene, an eyewitness said the impact of the collision caused the jeep to topple several times before coming to a halt.
Public-spirited citizens summoned the Guyana Fire Service to assist in removing the drivers from the wreckage.
Fraser-Patterson, who was pinned in her vehicle, had to be pulled out by Police and fire-fighters.
The eyewitness noted that as they looked around, they saw body parts scattered on the roadway and subsequently found Bess and Persaud some distance away from the motorcycle they were riding. Their bodies were completely mangled.
Fraser-Patterson, her husband and Baskarran were rushed to the Diamond Diagnostic Centre, but were referred to the Georgetown Public Hospital.
Marlon Bess, brother of the dead man, told Guyana Times that the family received a phone call about 04:00h informing them of the accident.
When they arrived at the scene, they saw the bodies of Bess and Persaud lying on the roadway.
Marlon said his brother left home to attend a house party and from all indications, he was heading home when he met his demise.
Bess’s brother was not sure how his brother knew the 15-year-old girl. They later learnt that she had been in bed at her mother’s house before she escaped and went to a dance in Soesdyke.
Acting Traffic Officer Boodnarine Persaud told Guyana Times that he visited the scene and from all indications, the jeep, which was heading to Timehri, might have attempted to swerve from the drop in the road thus colliding with two other vehicles.
He noted that the motorcyclist and the pillion rider were not wearing helmets at the time of the accident, and reiterated the call for motorists to adhere to the rules when using the roadways.
He also noted that from reports received, Baskarran, Persaud and Bess might have been under the influence of alcohol at the time of the accident, but this would have to be confirmed.
The traffic official was also concerned about the increase in the number of people being caught driving under the influence of alcohol.
This accident has now taken the road accidents death toll to 10 cyclists and three pillion riders for the year thus far. In addition, 13 pedestrians have lost their lives over the same period.