“Thank God for saving my life” – man, teen injured as vehicle smashes into wash bay

A businessman and a 16-year-old girl were injured on Friday night after a vehicle crashed into a wash bay and adjoining building at Number 30 Village, West Coast Berbice (WCB), Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice). The crash occurred at about 21:30h when the vehicle reportedly ploughed into the property, demolishing sections of the structure and trapping itself beneath debris. Business owner Kevin McKenzie, who operates the wash bay, was at the premises with relatives when the incident occurred. He sustained injuries to his face and leg and was taken to the hospital for medical treatment. Recalling the ordeal, McKenzie said he lost consciousness following the impact. “I ended up getting blackout. I didn’t know what was happening,” he said. Also injured was a 16-year-old, who said she was sitting in the yard while her brother was under the shed when the terrifying scene unfolded. “When I peeped, the car was tumbling, coming towards us,” the teenager recalled. She said she immediately shouted a warning to her brother as the vehicle hurtled in their direction. “I end up shouting and telling him to run,” she said.
According to the teen, she was struck by debris while attempting to escape. “The vehicle hit the shed, and the wood flicked out and hit my foot,” she explained. The teenager sustained a sprained left foot and remained in pain on Saturday.

Uncertainty
McKenzie said the crash has left him facing physical pain as well as uncertainty about how he will earn a living while recovering. “I can’t work now. I have to go back to the hospital and see what’s going on,” he said. The businessman, who depends on the wash bay for his livelihood, said the situation has been particularly difficult given his responsibilities at home. “I feel bad. I can’t move. There’s nothing I can do right now,” he said while adding, “I just look after myself, my children and my mother. That would be real bad if I can’t do anything.” McKenzie said he is uncertain what the coming weeks and months will bring as he recovers from his injuries and assesses the damage to the business. “I don’t know what the next three months or seven days will be like, but God knows, because most of the time when you’re in an accident, you can’t do the same things you used to do before,” he said.
Despite the injuries and the extensive destruction left behind, the businessman remains grateful that no lives were lost. “Thank God for saving my life,” he said.
In addition to the structural damage, McKenzie said several items used in the operation of the wash bay were damaged. These include a water pump, generator and other equipment used to wash vehicles. He noted that materials he had purchased for planned upgrades to the business were also affected. However, he was unable to provide an estimate of the losses, explaining that he had not yet conducted a full assessment of the damage. His brother’s car, which was also parked there, received extensive damage. McKenzie explained that his brother was out of town and left the vehicle there for safekeeping until his return. Police are investigating the circumstances surrounding the crash.