Lorry driver gets $500,000 for fatal Sherrif Street collision

Denzel Webb, a 28-year-old truck driver from Belfield, East Coast Demerara (ECD), was on Friday charged and granted bail for the death of Carlton Smartt who was struck down and killed at Sherrif Street earlier in the week.
Webb appeared before Chief Magistrate Faith McGusty at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts and pleaded not guilty to the charge when it was read to him. He is scheduled to return to court on December 6, 2024.
Webb’s attorney, George Thomas, argued that his client was not reckless but suffered a mechanical failure thus leading to the lorry’s brakes failing. However, the prosecution contended that there was no evidence to support this claim and noted that the high speed at which Webb was allegedly driving contributed significantly to the devastating accident.

The incident occurred on Tuesday last at the intersection of Sheriff and Dennis Streets in Georgetown, resulting in the death of 42-year-old Smartt, an electrical contractor from Newtown Kitty.
It was reported that at about 6:50hrs, Webb’s motor lorry, GAH 5183, reportedly ran a stop sign while travelling at a high speed. This action brought him into the path of another lorry, GAH 8008 also moving at a fast pace along Sheriff Street.
The collision caused both lorries to lose control, with Webb’s vehicle veering off course and fatally striking Smartt, who was jogging in the area at the time. The force of the impact trapped Smartt under the rear wheel of Webb’s lorry. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

The chaos didn’t end there. The out-of-control lorries collided with six cars and caused significant damage, including one lorry crashing into a nearby building.
At the time none of the drivers was found to be under the influence of alcohol.