Two persons, including a television journalist were killed last evening when a minibus transporting a media team collided with a truck along the Amelia’s Ward Highway, at Linden.
The smash-up, which occurred just after 6 pm, claimed the lives of National Communication Network (NCN) reporter Akeela Jacobs and driver Terrence Griffith Tappin, who was contracted by the Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company (GT&T). The accident occurred as company officials and media representatives were being transported from Ituni after a commissioning ceremony for a new cellular facility.
Jacobs, 23, a mother of one, was pronounced dead at the Georgetown Public Hospital, where she was transported for treatment; Tappin, 60, of Lot 651 West Ruimveldt, died on the spot. The injured are: Ravena Gildharie, a Guyana Times reporter, who suffered head injuries and broken legs; Serena Knights, a Customer Service Manager of the GT&T Linden Branch; Nazeem Mohammed and June-Anne Amsterdam of NCN; and Kenneth Whyte of GT&T. Up to press time Gildharie was a patient at the GPHC, while the others were expected to be transported to the city from Linden.
According to accounts, the accident occurred when the minibus driver collided with the rear of the truck, which was moving in the same direction. An eyewitness told Stabroek News that the truck, GJJ 7382, belonging to K. Jagdeo of 51 New Road Corentyne, was about to turn off the highway into the well road when the bus slammed into it its rear. “I was standing on the curb waiting fuh de truck fuh turn when all I hear was badam,” he explained. He said that the truck only had one headlamp on the right front and rear and the bus-driver mistook it for a motorcycle.
When Stabroek News arrived at the scene, public-spirited citizens were trying to release Jacobs from the minibus. Jacobs, who was sitting in the front passenger seat, was trapped by the smashed in front of the vehicle and was alive at the time. Tappin was already dead.
The injured were rushed to the Linden Hospital Corpora-tion (LHC) and later transferred to GPHC. Terry Holder and other senior GT&T hospital were present at LHC gathering information and comforting the injured.
GT&T’s Assistant Public Relations Officer, Oscar Clarke said the company was shocked by the tragic events. He said the minibus departed Ituni on schedule as part of the plan to safely transport those travelling to the assignment back to the city. “It is a sad day for us at GT&T, everyone is equally stunned and moved by what has happened, particularly given our loss”, he said referring to the death of Tappin. He was not aware of Jacob’s passing at the time.
Just before 10 pm the ambulance transporting Jacobs and Gildharie arrived at the GPHC. Jacobs was transported into Accident and Emergency unit and a short time later hospital staff relayed the tragic news to her relatives as well as close friends and colleagues who had gathered. Sobs immediately became screams and chaos erupted at the facility. GT&T CEO Major General (rtd) Joe Singh told reporters at the hospital that the loss of life was regrettable and he extended condolences to the families of the victims, while NCN News Editor-in-Chief Michael Gordon described Jacob’s death as an immeasurable loss.
When Stabroek News visited Tappin’s home his relatives were still in shock. His reputed wife, Penelope Sutton, said he had been reluctant to go to Ituni. “He didn’t want to go and look where it get he,” she said. (Cathy Wilson and Sara Bharrat)
