Linden Highway fatal accident: Ranks were not properly attired with relevant reflectors – driver of lorry tells Police

The driver of the motor lorry involved in the accident that claimed the life of Guyana Defence Force Sergeant Deslyn Nicholson on the Soesdyke-Linden Highway on Wednesday evening has said he couldn’t see the soldiers as they were not wearing any reflective vests, lights, or other warning appliances. Moreover, the area was dark due to the absence of street lights.

The Police have said that this accident occurred at about 21:00h on Wednesday in the vicinity of the Splashmin Resort, and involved motor lorry GAC 5915, which was at the time being driven by a 26-year-old resident of Golden Grove, East Bank Demerara, and three soldiers who, according to the GDF, were part of the army’s annual 30km walk. The soldiers are Staff Sergeant Kwame Reid, Lance Corporal Kelly Jackson, and the late Sergeant Deslyn Nicholson, 33, a resident of Number 30 Village, West Coast Berbice. They were stationed at Base Camp Stephenson at Timehri.
The driver has alleged that he was proceeding south along the eastern side of the road at Madewini when he suddenly saw three persons in dark-coloured clothing walking three abreast on the eastern side of the road, heading south. At the time, he noted, they were not wearing any reflective vests, lights, or other warning appliances, and the area was also dark.
He said that upon seeing them, he applied brakes to avoid a collision, but due to the short distance, the left side front of his vehicle collided with them, causing them to sustain injuries about their bodies and fall on the road surface. The driver said that as he exited his vehicle, he noticed the three pedestrians were all soldiers.
The injured soldiers were picked up and taken by army ambulance to the Diamond Diagnostic Centre, where Nicholson was pronounced dead, while the two other ranks were treated and sent away.
A breathalyzer test was conducted on the lorry driver, but no trace of alcohol was detected in his system. He remains in custody as investigations continue.
Meanwhile, the GDF has said that, by Standard Operating Procedures (SOP), a Board of Inquiry into this incident will be conducted. All precautionary measures are taken on board when an SOP is being conducted, inclusive of ambulance and reflectors etc.