Two persons were killed in an accident on Tuesday afternoon at Good Hope, East Coast Demerara (ECD), while several others were injured.
Dead are 38-year-old Andrew Albert and Annalisa Lackhan, also 38.
According to the Police report, Albert, of Lamaha Park, Georgetown, was the driver of minibus BAB 4746, which was involved in the accident, while Lackhan, of Gopie Street, Buxton North, ECD, was an occupant in the minibus.
Dead: Annalisa Lackhan
It was reported that at around 13:01h, the minibus was proceeding along the southern driving lane of the northern carriageway whilst motor pick-up GNN 3048 was proceeding in the same lane in front of the minibus when the minibus attempted to overtake the motor pick-up.
In so doing, a collision occurred, which caused the minibus to pull further left and collide with a parked lorry, GAC 6803.
Dead: Andrew Albert
Further reports revealed that the driver of the minibus lost control and the vehicle, turned turtle and then hit the lorry and a horse cart further east. The minibus also collided into the side rear of motor car PLL 5535.
As a result of the collision, several people who were in the minibus received injuries and were taken to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) to seek medical attention.
The driver of the motor pick-up is in custody assisting with the investigation.
Shocking news
While at the scene, the dead man’s father, Cyril Albert, told the media that he was at home preparing to head back to the interior when he received a call from several persons telling him that his son was involved in an accident and that he succumbed to his injuries.
The bus that was involved in the accident
The man said as he rushed to the scene, he received the shock of his life.
“He was a very jovial person, everybody and people know Andrew…what can I do? I cannot do anything, at least I am here and see the kind of accident…”, the grieving father said.
He told Guyana Times that his son’s death shocked him as his son has died at such a young age. He said that his son would have celebrated his birthday on September 19.
“He was working in the Police Force for a couple of years and then he resigned and then he was working with this oil company, ExxonMobil, and when he come out, he would drive bus part-time,” the grieving father said.
Father of the dead man: Cyril Albert
The man said while he was told that it was the pick-up that hit his son’s minibus, and which led to the collision, he is fully aware that his son is a fast driver and would have warned him on many occasions to slow down.
“This shocked me a lot. Even though I know he drives hard…I use to talk to him. When I heard that my son died, I couldn’t move, I couldn’t catch myself. That is why I couldn’t come [to the scene] right away,” the man said.
Paralysed
In 2018, the now dead man was charged with dangerous driving after he had struck down a now 13-year-old boy, leaving him paralysed.
Matthew Zaman, the 13-year-old boy, has been bedridden for more than five years. Zaman is still unable to speak or move his hands and legs, and he cannot breathe without the help of a nasal cannula (a device used to deliver supplemental oxygen or increased airflow to a patient in need of respiratory help).
In December 2017, the lad’s family was met with the tragic news that Zaman was struck by a minibus driven by the now-dead Albert, in front of their home. Following the accident, he was admitted as a patient in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at the Georgetown Public Hospital for over a month.
However, Matthew, surprised everyone and continued to fight for his life, and was later discharged from the medical institution. He sustained a fractured skull, which resulted in swelling in the brain; damage to his lungs, and an injury to his spine, which hinders his mobility.
Following the incident, Albert was charged with dangerous driving. He was sentenced to 12 months in prison but appealed the case and was freed.
