Driver in Nismes fatal accident gets 4 years, 6 months
The minibus driver in a 2019 accident at Nismes, West Bank Demerara (WBD), which left four persons dead, has been jailed for four years and six months.
Compton Bagot, 36, of La Retraite, WBD, who was found guilty of four counts of causing death by dangerous driving earlier this month, was sentenced last Wednesday by Principal Magistrate Faith Mc Gusty when he appeared at the Wales Magistrate’s Court.
He was imprisoned for four years and six months on each of the four counts, however, the sentences will run concurrently. In addition, he was fined $20,000 each for failing to render assistance to the injured persons and for failing to report the accident to the Police.
If Bagot does not pay the fines, he will be imprisoned for a month. Bagot was initially charged back in February 2020 and was released on $400,000 bail for the causing death charges.
Scenes from the deadly crash between the minibus and motor car
Of the 21 persons involved in this fatal accident, 12 were admitted at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) and four were at the West Demerara Regional Hospital (WDRH) for days receiving necessary medical attention.
When the tragedy took place, 52-year-old Rawle Williams of Canal Number One, WBD, who was the driver of the car involved in the accident, lost his life.
Principal Magistrate Faith Mc Gusty
The three others who died are females including a child. Dead are 29-year-old Ayesha Sealey of Patentia Housing Scheme, WBD; 22-year-old Zavira Jona of Patentia, WBD; and 12-year-old Maria Bisnauth, who hailed from lot 125 Sideline Dam, Sister’s Village, WBD.
Dead: Maria Bisnauth (left) and Ashley Sealey
According to reports, the accident occurred at about 19:20h on November 30, 2019, at Nismes Public Road, WBD, when the minibus was proceeding north along the western carriageway of the road, reportedly at a fast rate of speed.
Reports are that while in the vicinity of a gas station which is located on the western side of that roadway, the driver of motor car PTT 691 drove out from the fuel station in a south-eastern direction into the path of the minibus.
Dead: Zavira Jona
According to the Police, this resulted in the right front portion of the minibus colliding with the right-side front door of the motor car and this caused both vehicles to spin off the road and end up on the grass parapet and the trench, respectively.
At the time of the accident, the minibus had been overloaded with passengers.
