Victim robbed of cash, jewellery

A 27-year-old man died and two persons were injured after the car that they were in, crashed into a bridge at Goed Intent, West Bank Demerara (WBD) early yesterday morning.

Carl Smith Jr

Carl Smith Jr. of Unity Street, La Grange, WBD, was pronounced dead on arrival at the West Demerara Regional Hospital (WDRH) following the incident, which occurred at about 3:30 am yesterday. Ramdeen (only name given), who is Smith’s uncle and lives on the same street, was also in the car and sustained scraped ribs, a fractured right hand and other cuts and bruises. Marlyn Gobin, of Wales, WBD also sustained injuries and has been hospitalized. 

Smith was the driver of the car, which belonged to Ramdeen. Ramdeen told Stabroek News that they had been at a barbecue earlier that night and were taking Gobin home, when the incident occurred. He admitted that they had had “a few beers” at the barbecue. He said that he was unaware of how the accident occurred and was knocked unconscious by the crash and woke up in the hospital.

Police, in a statement said that Smith was driving the car on the Goed Intent public road, when he lost control of the vehicle, which crashed into a concrete bridge. As a result of the impact, he suffered injuries about his body, the police said. Stabroek News was told that after hitting the bridge, the vehicle spun around several times and ended up in the canal.

Ramdeen and Gobin were taken to the WDRH. Ramdeen was later taken to the Woodlands Hospital while Gobin was transferred to the Georgetown Public Hospital.

Smith’s father, Carl Senior told this newspaper that his only son had left home on Saturday night with his uncle. He said that around 4 am yesterday, he awoke and noted that his son wasn’t home. He stated that about 15 minutes later, an acquaintance called for him outside the home. He went outside to meet the man. “He seh, man, I got something to tell you, man…he seh man, you could have my sympathies”, Carl recalled. The grieving man stated that he and his wife then left to go to the WDRH but were told that only two persons had been taken there and his son’s body was still at the site. However, as they were on the way there, they were told that the body had been taken to the hospital.

Carl Sr. said that following the incident, it was discovered that his son had been robbed. He said that cash and jewellery such as a gold chain and rings were missing in addition to his cellular phone. The man declared that it was observed that the pockets on his son’s pants were turned inside out.

He said that his son worked at an Auto Sales business as a customs broker. He described him as a “nice person”, who was easy-going and mannerly. Smith is survived by his parents, two sisters and other relatives. A number of persons were gathered at the home yesterday and expressed shock at the man’s death.