GGMC, Labour Ministry launch probe into fatal accident at Aurora Mine

Investigations have intensified into the fatal accident at Aurora Gold Mine which claimed the life of 47-year-old Joseph Licorish of West Watooka, Wismar, Linden, and the Labour Department and the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) have launched their independent probes.
Officials from the two entities have travelled to the location over the past weekend, and have spoken to employees and management personnel. They are reportedly working in close collaboration with the Guyana Police Force (GPF).
It has been reported that the accident, which occurred last Saturday at about 10:20h, involved motor lorry TL 001, which was then being driven by the now dead man, and motor lorry TL 19, which was then being driven by Nigel Denny, a 41-year-old resident of Georgetown.
Preliminary investigations revealed that both vehicles were fully loaded with stones in the tray, and motor lorry TL 001 was descending a hill in the vicinity of an open mining pit area when it collided with motor lorry TL 19, which was proceeding in the opposite direction. At the time of the collision, the lorries were negotiating a slight bend in the road.
Nigel Denny, driver of motor lorry TL 19, has said he saw Licorish’s lorry approaching at a fast rate, and it suddenly swerved into his lane. He said he pulled to his left to avoid a collision with Licorish, but because the distance between them was so short, the front portion of Licorish’s lorry collided with his lorry, and Licorish’s lorry flipped on its side.
The Police have said the impact of the collision caused the cabin of Licorish’s lorry to become dislodged, and it pinned the driver inside. The injured Licorish was pulled from the cabin by other workers and taken to the Aurora Health Centre, where he was pronounced dead.
Nigel Denny also sustained head and body injuries, but he has been treated and is reportedly in a stable condition. Both the late Joseph Licorish and the injured Nigel Denny were transported to Georgetown.