Unlicensed driver killed in crash at Maria’s Delight, two injured

An accident that occurred on Friday around 20:00 hrs at Maria’s Delight, Essequibo Coast has left one man dead and two others injured.

Dead is Safraz Rahim, 26, of Dunkeld, Essequibo Coast. Ricardo Fredco, 19, of Dartmouth and Balkishun Gobin who were the only two passengers in the bus sustained injuries and were admitted to the Oscar Joseph District Hospital (OJDH) at Charity.

According to police reports, minibus BRR 7926 was proceeding north along the western lane of the Essequibo Coast public road at Maria’s Delight when Rahim, who was driving lost control. The bus flipped onto the eastern side of the road and landed in a nearby trench.

Safraz Rahim
Safraz Rahim

Rahim was picked up in an unconscious state and was pronounced dead on arrival at the OJDH, police said.

Meanwhile, when contacted relatives said that Rahim, who was an unlicensed driver, had received a telephone call from an uncle requesting that he pick him up at Charity as he was stranded there.

Rahim took his father’s minibus and was heading to Charity when the accident occurred. He had apparently picked up Fredco and Gobin along the way.

A resident of Maria’s Delight told this newspaper that she was at home watching television when she heard a loud sound. On investigating, she saw the minibus in the trench. The driver and both passengers had been flung from the bus when it crashed.

Other residents of the area came out to render assistance, but she said it took them some 15 minutes to locate Rahim because the road was dark.

Rahim’s body is currently at the Suddie Parlour and the police are investigating.