A car accident late Saturday evening in Opelika, Alabama, United States has claimed the life of a Guyanese-born doctor.
Dr. Malcolm Goodchild, a 50-year-old physician from Fortson, Georgia, succumbed to his injuries following a head-on collision on Interstate 85.
According to a report from wtvm.com, the Opelika Police Department reported that the crash occurred around 19:17h on September 7 at the Northbound exit ramp near Exit 62. Emergency services were alerted to a multi-vehicle accident involving a Tesla and a Toyota 4Runner.
The report stated that upon arrival, officers found the Tesla on fire. Quick action from responding officers temporarily extinguished the flames, allowing them to assist the occupants until the Opelika Fire Department arrived. Dr. Goodchild, who was driving the Tesla, was airlifted to Piedmont Columbus Regional Hospital in Columbus, where he later passed away. He leaves behind a legacy as a dedicated medical professional with roots in Guyana.
The scene of the late-night car crash (Source: Opelika Police Department)
The Tesla’s passenger and the driver of the Toyota 4Runner, wtvm.com stated were both transported to the hospital, where they remain in treatment. The driver of the 4Runner is reported to have serious injuries, while the Tesla’s passenger is recovering with non-life-threatening injuries.
Preliminary investigations suggest the driver of the Toyota 4Runner was traveling the wrong way on the exit ramp, leading to the fatal head-on collision.
Dr Goodchild was part of an Overseas Medical Assistance Team (OMAT) that travelled in Guyana over the years to perform surgeries at the Linden Hospital Complex and other clinics.
