Two gold miners were on Friday killed in an accident in Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni) after the truck in which they were travelling turned turtle on the Issano Trail.
Dead are 26-year-old Osborne Fredricks and 31-year-old Collis Fredricks, both of Wakapao, Lower Pomeroon.
The incident occurred at some time around 08:30h at Fourteen Miles Issano Trail, Mazaruni. According to Police reports, the two deceased were among eight gold miners seated in the tray of motor lorry GVV 7484 which was being driven by a 63-year-old resident of 14 Miles Issano at the time of the accident.
Preliminary investigations revealed that the motor lorry was proceeding north along the Fourteen Miles Issano Trail, and was ascending a hill when the driver lost control of the vehicle and it turned turtle on the left side. The occupants were thrown onto the trail, and the lorry pinned Osborne Fredricks and Collis Fredricks.
All the occupants were picked up by Police and escorted to the Bartica Regional Hospital, where the two men were pronounced dead on arrival.
Several other occupants were treated for minor lacerations about their bodies. Among the injured were 26-year-old gold miner Kelron Jones; 53-year-old gold miner Joseph Sahoye of lot 5 Zeelugt, East Bank Essequibo; 38-year-old Shawn Pedro of Four Miles Potaro Road, Bartica; 19-year-old gold miner Dexter Bruton; and 41-year-old Abar Baker of Lot 1 Good Hope, East Coast Demerara.
The Police have indicated that a Notice of Intended Prosecution has been served on the 63-year-old motor lorry driver, who is presently in custody assisting with the investigation.
