Diamond deadly minibus accident: Teens remain in critical condition

…unlicensed bus driver charged for causing deaths

As the relatives of Anthony ‘Junior’ Persaud prepare to pay him their last respects on Tuesday, his 17-year-old brother Johnny Persaud remains on life support in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of the Georgetown Public Hospital.
Anthony was instantly killed on Sunday evening after the bus in which he and several others were travelling, including his brother, flipped several times before coming to rest in a turned-turtle turtle position along the Diamond Public Road.
Johnny remains in a critical state, as well as 16-year-old Michael James of Lot 29 Koker Dam, Land of Canaan, EBD.
Johnny Persaud is suffering from severe head injuries and contusions to the chest, while Michael James is nursing head injuries.
The accident also left dead 19-year-old Aaliyah Edwards of Lot 16 Land of Canaan, EBD. Edwards also is expected to be laid to rest next week.
The mother of Johnny Persaud, when contacted on Thursday morning, related that it is very hard to lose one son and have the other on life support. “Up to Thursday morning, Johnny wasn’t moving… he does not know anyone…he just lay down on the bed with all the machines hooked up to he…the doctors them trying them best, but he not responding at all,” the mother stated.
She noted that family members are presently making arrangements for her other son’s funeral. “It is hard for a mother to have to bury her son…it supposed to be he burying me…,” she has said.
The devastated mother recalled receiving the news of her son’s death on Sunday evening. She has said that ever since receiving the news, “I don’t know meh head from meh foot.”

The woman has said she would continue to pray for her other son to recover.
It has been reported that a group of teenagers had hired a minibus to go to a resort in Timehri on the East Bank of Demerara on Sunday, and after the facilities were closed at 17:00h, the teenagers went to the Georgetown seawalls. On their way home at about 22:00h, the bus, BXX 7256, driven by a 23-year-old unlicensed driver from Five Door Koker Dam, Land-of-Canaan, EBD, toppled several times before coming to a halt in the vicinity of the Demerara Distillers Limited (DDL) at Diamond.

The Police have confirmed that the driver was driving at a fast rate, and might have lost control while negotiating a turn. A breathalyser test conducted on him proved that he was above the legal limit of alcohol consumption.
Apart from the two dead teenagers and the other two who remain in critical condition, several others were injured. They are: Sabrina Corlette, 18, of Hyde Park, Timehri, EBD, who is suffering from head injuries and an open fracture dislocation to the right ankle; Seth Abrams, 18, of Schoonord, West Bank Demerara (WBD), who sustained deep abrasion injuries to the right leg; Jessie Wishart, 23, and Joel Wishart, 20, of Lot 43 Old Road, Land of Canaan, EBD; Odarry Gonsalves, 18, of Lot 192 Old Road, Land of Canaan, EBD; Valencia George, 18, of Lot 80 Land of Canaan, EBD; and Shane Argyle, 17, of Koker Dam, Land of Canaan, EBD. They were all treated and sent away.
From reports received, the teenagers were celebrating a friend’s birthday when tragedy struck. In addition, during investigations, Police found out that the minibus driver was in possession of a bogus licence, and as such, at the time of the accident, he was an unlicensed driver.
This driver, 23-year-old Kevon Moore of Land of Canaan, EBD, has already appeared at the Diamond/Grove Magistrate’s Court to answer several charges in relation to the accident. He has been charged with two counts of causing death by dangerous driving; being an unlicensed driver; breach of insurance; driving under the influence of alcohol, and failure to render assistance after an accident.
He pleaded not guilty to the charges when they were read to him by Magistrate Judy Latchman, and as such was granted bail in the sum of $1,080,000. However, he was subsequently remanded to prison until August 9, 2021.