Taxi driver, friend killed after car submerges in Berbice canal

– driver reportedly swerved from colliding with carcass

Two persons are dead while a third is hospitalised after the car in which they were travelling veered off the road at Bamfield, East Coast Berbice, Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne) and ended up in a canal where it subsequently submerged. The accident occurred in the wee hours of Sunday.
Dead are 39-year-old Qualis Crawford also called “Blood” of Sukdeo Street, West Canje and Shelliza London popularly known as “Shelly” of Stanleytown, New Amsterdam.
At the time of the accident, Crawford was the driver of the car with London as the front seat passenger while another male whose name was not available was in the back seat.
Based on reports received, Crawford served from colliding with the carcass of an animal on the roadway but ended up crashing into a sand heap before losing control of the vehicle which ended up in the canal.
The backseat passenger managed to exit the vehicle and sought assistance. At first, the injured man attempted to stop a taxi that was passing at the time but the car went about its business without stopping.
However, as the car was passing the area for a second time, the driver realised that something was amiss and stopped. Eventually, the motionless bodies of Crawford and London were pulled from the car after it had been underwater for some time with its wheels in the air.

Both of them were taken to the New Amsterdam Hospital where they were officially pronounced dead while the backseat passenger was admitted.
Meanwhile, Crawford’s reputed wife, Melissa April when contacted explained that she retired to bed at about 23:00h on Saturday evening, and shortly after, he turned up at the house but drove away before she could enquire what he wanted.
She explained that Crawford, who is also a deejay, was scheduled to participate in the Berbice Mash tramp on Sunday. Further, she stated that Crawford and his female friend had gone to a party on the Corentyne. An investigation is underway.
Over the past few weeks, several motorcyclists have died as a result of crashes on the Corentyne Highway. As recently as Tuesday last, 30-year-old Devindra Lakhraj, a beverage distribution agent of Rahaman Street Corriverton, and 24-year-old Ronny Persaud, a spray painter of Springlands, were killed following an accident along the Number 79 Village Public Road in Corriverton, Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne).
It was reported that the two men were travelling on a motorcycle that Lakhraj was riding with Persaud as the pillion rider. They were proceeding along the Number 79 Public Road at a fast rate of speed when they collided with a motor car. Neither of them was wearing a helmet at the time.
Then on January 27, Noel Channan, also called “Titoo Bai,” 23, a tattoo artist and labourer of Ankerville, Port Mourant, Corentyne, died after the motorcycle he was riding crashed into a parked car along the Alness Public Road.
It was reported that prior to the accident, he had been imbibing as part of his birthday celebrations, and was reportedly doing a stunt on the bike when he lost control of the vehicle and it slammed into a car.
On February 8, Kelon Scott, 24, of Limlair Village, Corentyne, crashed into a parked lorry at Auchlyne. A part of the motorcycle’s handle went through the man’s leg, making it impossible for residents to remove him and take him to a medical facility.
On February 13, Vickram Basdeo, also called “Boyo”, 27, of Number 71 Village, Corentyne, Berbice, was killed after a car ended up in his lane and crashed into his motorcycle. The pillion rider was injured in that crash.
On February 18, Altar Lalman died after crashing his motorcycle into a car at Line Path, Skeldon.
Police Commissioner Clifton Hicken has expressed concern over the use of the country’s roadways by this category of road users.