Man dies as trucks collide amid ‘thick smoke’ along WCB roadway

A collision between two lorries on the Foulis Public Road, West Coast Berbice (WCB) on Tuesday has left 34-year-old Retaford Chittian of Williamsburg, Corentyne, Berbice dead and Mohamed Skakar and Nadir Ali injured.
The accident, involving motor lorries GTT 9027 and GZZ 2733, was reportedly cause by thick smoke from a brush fire that had engulfed the roadway, thus obstructing visibility in the West Coast Berbice area.

Motor lorry GTT 9027 is owned by Industrial Fabrications, and was at the time being driven by a 64-year-old man; and motor lorry GZZ 2733 was being driven by Shakar of South Public Road, Block 4, Last Street, Tain New Scheme, Corentyne Berbice.
According to the Police, motor lorry GTT 9027 was proceeding west along the southern drive lane when thick smoke was encountered across the road ahead. The driver said this caused him to slow down, due to poor visibility, and while continuing his journey, he felt an impact at the rear of his lorry.
The driver said he brought the vehicle to a halt, and he noticed that the other lorry had crashed into his lorry. He said the driver of this other vehicle and the two other occupants therein had sustained injuries.

They were assisted out of the vehicle and taken to the Fort Wellington Public Hospital, where Chittian was pronounced dead on arrival. The other two persons were treated and sent away.
Police say both drivers were taken to the Weldaad Police Station, where breathalyzer tests administered to them detected no trace of alcohol in their system. They were nevertheless detained.
Back in October 2021, several persons were injured in a three-vehicle collision at the said location at Foulis. On that occasion, a farmer had set fire to his rice field, resulting in thick smoke reducing the visibility of road users.