Bus driver on $1M bail for causing death of Chinese national

Gregory Collins, a 34-year-old bus driver of Lot 72 Middle Walk, Golden Grove, East Coast Demerara (ECD), was on Friday charged with causing the death of a Chinese national by dangerous driving and placed on $1 million bail.

Collins appeared at the Diamond/Golden Grove Magistrates’ Courts before Principal Magistrate Judy Latchman, who read the charge to him. He pleaded not guilty.
The matter was adjourned until November 24.
On the afternoon of Wednesday, March 15, Collins, the driver of minibus BYY 7852, struck down and killed 59-year-old Gao Zhen Jin at Timehri, East Bank Demerara (EBD).
The foreign national was a construction worker attached to the company contracted to build the Courtyard Marriott near the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA).

The bus was proceeding along Timehri Public Road at a fast rate of speed and whilst in the vicinity of the roundabout, the driver failed to slow down, thus resulting in him losing control of the vehicle, which ended up driving straight across the road into the Courtyard Marriott compound.
The minibus reportedly ploughed through the fence and collided with Jin, who was standing in front of the building. As a result of the collision, Jin fell to the ground and received injuries to his body. He was picked up in an unconscious condition and escorted to the Diamond Diagnostic Centre, where he was pronounced dead on arrival. (G1)