A three-vehicle collision occurred on Saturday afternoon on the Providence Public Road, East Bank Demerara, resulting in one fatality and several injuries. The Guyana Police Force (GPF) has released preliminary findings attributing blame to a motor lorry for cutting into the path of an oncoming Route 42 minibus. However, the police report does not address claims from eyewitnesses suggesting that the minibus was traveling at a high rate of speed.
The incident took place around 17:00 hrs near the Guyana National Stadium, claiming the life of 36-year-old Ruddy Raymond, a passenger in the minibus. The collision also left the minibus driver and seven other passengers with serious injuries, causing significant traffic disruption along a busy commercial corridor.
According to the initial police reconstruction, the Route 42 minibus, registration BAH 9443, was driven by 31-year-old Colin Cumberbatch of Kitty, Georgetown, and was traveling north in the eastern lane. Simultaneously, a motor lorry, registration GAF 1093, driven by 55-year-old Kord Sobers of La Parfaite Harmonie, was heading north in the adjacent lane. Investigators allege that the lorry made a sudden right turn, crossing into the path of the minibus, which then collided with the lorry and subsequently flipped onto its side, colliding with a southbound car.
Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs) arrived at the scene, where Raymond was pronounced dead. The driver of the car and a passenger sustained minor injuries, while the remaining minibus occupants were transported to the Diamond Regional Hospital for treatment. Breathalyzer tests on the lorry driver showed negligible alcohol levels.
Despite the police’s focus on the lorry’s lane change, surveillance footage suggests a more complex scenario, showing the minibus approaching at high speed. Critics argue that the preliminary report overlooks the issue of speeding among minibus operators, which may have contributed to the severity of the crash.
Legal proceedings began on Monday, with both drivers facing charges of Causing Death by Dangerous Driving. They were remanded to prison, and the case has been adjourned to July 10, 2026, amid public calls for a thorough investigation into the factors leading to the accident.
Source: hgptv.com
