Minibus driver gets 3 years for death of conductor

– in Herstelling accident

Kevin Farrel was on Tuesday sentenced to three years in prison after he was found guilty by Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan for causing the death of Leonard Henry. Farrell is the driver of a minibus which crashed into a lamp post on the Herstelling Public Road, East Bank Demerara, leaving one person dead and several others injured in October last year.

The accused was initially charged two days after the injured minibus conductor succumbed at the Georgetown Public Hospital (GPHC).

He was granted bail in the sum of $1.5 million by Magistrate Judy Latchman, after he pleaded not guilty to the charge which stated that on October 11, 2016, at the Herstelling Public Road, he drove minibus bearing registration plates BVV 901 in a manner dangerous to the public, thereby causing the death of Leonard Henry.

According to reports, on the day in question, at around 10:00h, the driver of the Route 42 minibus lost control of the vehicle, causing it to crash into a utility pole before toppling on its left side. The accident occurred a short distance away from the Providence Police Station.

A passenger who was in the bus had spoken to this newspaper, relating that the bus was heading to Georgetown and as it was navigating the ‘S’ turn at Herstelling, it encountered problems. Additional reports indicate that it was raining heavily when the minibus started to sway, subsequently crashing into the pole and toppling thereafter. The conductor’s head was reportedly pinned under the vehicle.

The injured man was rushed to the Diamond Diagnostic Centre and transferred to the GPHC where he succumbed to his injuries two days later. Post mortem reports reveal that the injured man died from brain haemorrhaging.

Magistrate McLennan in her summing up declared that the Prosecution had established its case beyond a reasonable doubt, concluding that it was reckless of the driver to embark on a journey with smooth tyres in such weather. She noted that while the court understands his story that he lost control of the vehicle, the incident occurred largely owing to the condition of the tyres which had no grip on the road. The Magistrate deemed the usage of the minibus in such a condition to be unsafe and dangerous to the public, thereby pronouncing him guilty.

Farrel, who cut a lone figure in court in the absence of his attorney, wept bitterly as the Magistrate handed down her ruling, apologising for his actions. “I am sorry…,” he sniffled. (Paula Gomes)