2 drivers slapped with causing death by dangerous driving charge

…remanded to prison

Two men were on Monday remanded to prison after being charged with causing death by dangerous driving in connection with a fatal three-vehicle collision that occurred on Providence Public Road, East Bank Demerara (EBD). Kord Sobers, 55, of Parfaite Harmonie, West Bank Demerara (WBD), the driver of motor lorry, GAF 1093, and Colin Cumberbatch, 31, of Kitty, Georgetown, the driver of minibus, BAH 9443 appeared in court on Monday. The charges stem from an accident that occurred on Saturday which resulted in the death of Ruddy Raymond, 36, of Jonestown, Lima, Essequibo Coast. Sobers and Cumberbatch appeared before Magistrate Judy Latchman at the Diamond/Golden Grove Magistrates’ Courts on Monday where the indictable charges were read to them. They were not required to plead and were remanded to prison. The matters were adjourned to July 10.

According to police, the accident occurred at about 17:00h and involved the minibus, the motor lorry and motorcar, PJJ 1664, which was being driven by a 28-year-old resident of Diamond, EBD. Initial investigations revealed that the minibus was proceeding north along the eastern driving lane of the western carriageway of Providence Public Road, while the motor lorry was travelling north along the western driving lane. Police alleged that the motor lorry made a sharp right turn and entered the path of the minibus, causing the minibus to collide with the right side of the lorry. The impact caused the minibus to strike the median, enter the eastern carriageway and topple onto its right side before colliding with the motorcar, which was travelling south. As a result of the collision, the driver of the motorcar and his 23-year-old female passenger of Friendship, EBD, sustained minor injuries. The driver of the minibus and seven passengers also suffered injuries.
Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs) responded to the scene, where Raymond was examined by a doctor and pronounced dead.
His body was later taken to Memorial Gardens Funeral Home, where it is awaiting a Post-Mortem Examination (PME). The injured minibus driver and six surviving passengers were transported to the Diamond Regional Hospital for medical treatment. Police said two breathalyser tests conducted on the driver of the motor lorry returned readings of 0.003 per cent and 0.004 per cent.