2 die, 9 injured as overtaking minibus crashes into car
In a devastating incident on Sunday morning, two persons died and nine others were injured when an overtaking minibus crashed into a car and toppled several times before coming to a halt.
Dead are Keon Chandos Edwards, called “Proctor”, “Junior”, and “Mad Dog”, of Lot 660 Kuru Kururu, Soesdyke-Linden Highway, and Alvin Jones, 51, of Lot 4287 Tuschen, East Bank Essequibo.
The injured passengers are 43-year-old Raul Porter; 69-year-old Buels Tang; 18-year-old Jousha Bacchus; 20-year-old Josiah Marquen; 36-year-old Edward Toll; 29-year-old Mark Prichand; 22-year-old Karen Rodriguez and 57-year-old Carlton Hodge. Additionally, another male passenger is in an unconscious state at the Georgetown Public Hospital. The man, who is yet to be identified, is of East Indian descent.
Dead: Keon Edwards, also known as “Proctor”, “Junior”, and “Mad Dog”
According to Police, preliminary investigations revealed that around 08:30h on Sunday, the minibus, BYY 7440, was travelling north on the western side of Friendship Public Road at a high speed. The driver, Edwards, attempted to overtake a line of traffic, swerving into the western lane and colliding with motor car PAD 3102 driven by 36-year-old Jason Ramnauth of Alliance Road, Timehri, EBD. As a result of the impact of the collision, motor car PAD 3102 collided into the rear of motor car PXX 5169, resulting in further impact. The minibus lost control, toppled multiple times, and then halted on the western parapet, facing west with extensive damages. Motor car PXX 5169 was being driven by 45-year-old Kevin De Jonge of Timehri, EBD.
As the minibus topped, passengers were thrown onto the roadway. Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs) arrived on the scene shortly after, and the injured were transported to Diamond Hospital. Their conditions were listed as stable; however, the unidentified unconscious male was transferred to Georgetown Public Hospital in critical condition.
The accident which occurred at Friendship, EBD
The minibus driver, Keon Chandos Edwards and passenger Alvin Jones were pronounced dead at the scene.
This accident occurred within a week of another fatal accident, where a teenage minibus operator lost his life along the Borlam Public Road, Corentyne, Berbice.
Police reported that 18-year-old Marvin Ishmile was speeding west along Borlam Public Road when he lost control, colliding with a heap of sand on the southern side of the carriageway. The minibus toppled multiple times, causing Ishmile and a 60-year-old passenger, Rai Badree, to sustain multiple injuries. The teen succumbed while receiving treatment at the New Amsterdam Public Hospital.
