Children injured following 2-vehicle collision along Aubrey Barker Road
The bus shortly after it toppled
Several school children were taken to a city hospital on Friday following a collision between a Route 41 minibus and a motorcar along the Aubrey Barker Road in South Ruimveldt, Georgetown.
The incident occurred at about 08:00h, and eyewitnesses claimed the driver of the motorcar was responsible for the accident, alleging that his vehicle had struck the minibus. The impact of the hit caused the minibus to become uncontrollable and topple onto its side.
In a video captured at the site, the female driver of the motorcar, who is also pregnant, could be heard saying, “I did not see the bus coming.”
Bystanders rushed to help the injured children and other passengers exit the minibus. Blood was visible on the side of that vehicle, and concerned adults were observed assisting some of the injured schoolchildren.
One child was seen holding his arm tightly while gripping his haversack. Another, visibly injured and covered in blood, was carefully carried by a man and placed in another vehicle, which promptly rushed the child to the hospital.
Authorities are currently investigating the incident to determine the exact circumstances surrounding the collision.
One of the students who were injured as a result of the accident
Just last month, the Public Works Ministry said in a statement that it has taken note of the increasingly alarming trend of excessive speeding and reckless driving on Guyana’s roadways, and that this practice must never be condoned.
Within the last month, several persons – young and old, male and female – have lost their lives as a result of speeding, coupled with alcohol consumption in some instances. In fact, the Guyana Police Force (GPF) has reported that 109 persons have lost their lives from 91 accidents that occurred between January 1 and August 28, 2023. For the same period in 2022, there were 62 fatal accidents which resulted in 68 deaths.
“There is a level of irresponsibility that is practised by many drivers today, and one has to wonder if this is the cost of development”, the Ministry has said in a release.
Further, the Ministry said it has taken note of the increased destruction of public property as a result of accidents, and is warning that stricter fines and penalties would be introduced to remedy the situation.
In the case of reckless driving, those drivers would be held responsible and made to pay the cost of replacement and/or repairs.
