Taxi driver killed as truck rolls back causing 6-vehicle crash on BJ Demerara River Bridge

One person is dead and another is in critical condition following a six-vehicle collision on the southern carriageway of the Bharrat Jagdeo Demerara River Bridge at about 09:45h Thursday.
Dead is Scott Dorwart, a taxi driver of Grove, East Bank Demerara, who was employed with Safe and Reliable Cabs. His occupant, a 23-year-old male of Anna Catherina, West Coast Demerara (WCD), sustained injuries. Dorwart was pronounced dead at the scene by a doctor on duty, while the occupant was transported to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation, where he is receiving medical treatment.
Two other persons sustained minor injuries in the incident.
According to Police preliminary investigations, the crash occurred when motor lorry GAC 296, driven by a 23-year-old of Anna Catherina, WCD ,was proceeding west along the northern driving lane of the southern carriageway of the bridge when it reportedly experienced mechanical failure, came to a halt and subsequently rolled backwards, resulting in a series of collisions with vehicles travelling behind in the same carriageway.

The truck driver, whose truck was fetching cement at the time, told reporters that the gearbox malfunctioned while he was driving uphill, and despite attempts to hold the brakes and brace the truck against the bridge railing, he could not prevent the collision.
Eyewitnesses stated that the truck first struck a bus before impacting other vehicles on the bridge. Police confirmed that emergency personnel, including the Guyana Fire Service and medical teams, responded to assist victims and clear the scene.
According to Police, the vehicles involved in the fatal crash include motor lorry GAC 296; minibus GSS 1249 driven by a 59-year-old male of Anna Catherina, WCD; motor car PAC 372 driven by Scott Dorwart (deceased); motorcycle CM 335 driven by a 26-year-old male of Durban Backlands, Georgetown; motor pick-up PAL 3390 driven by a 51-year-old male of La Parfaite Harmonie, West Bank Demerara; and motor car PXX 4240 driven by a 43-year-old male of La Parfaite Harmonie, West Bank Demerara.

The body of the deceased was escorted to Memorial Gardens Funeral Home, where it is awaiting a post-mortem examination.
A breathalyser test conducted on the driver of the motor lorry showed a reading of 0.003 micrograms, which is below the legal limit of 30 micrograms. The driver, along with the owner of the motor lorry, a 55-year-old male of Anna Catherina, WCD, is presently in Police custody assisting with the investigation.
Investigations are ongoing.

Not overweight
Meanwhile, in a statement, the Public Works Ministry clarified that the truck was not overweight and had passed all axle load checks prior to crossing the bridge. The Ministry extended condolences to the family of Dorwart and wished a speedy recovery to the injured.