Two injured in West Berbice three-vehicle smash-up

A three-vehicle smash-up, involving a minibus, a Canter and a trailer at Golden Grove, West Coast Berbice on Wednesday has left two persons hospitalized, while two others escaped with minor injuries.

Wilton Cummings, 26, the driver of the canter GJJ 8707, marked “Scarbo – The Solid Rock” received injuries to both legs, while Kwesi James, 25, injured his left leg. They are both patients at the Fort Wellington Hospital.

The men told this newspaper they were heading to Hopetown when they noticed a bus being towed by another bus. They claimed that as they approached the turn the bus “swing” suddenly and the Canter collided with the right side of the bus that was being towed.

The Canter skidded and slammed into a parked trailer on the road.

The men who are both from Hopetown said residents had to use an iron bar to force open the badly mangled Canter, which is owned by Samuel Mc Pherson, to get them out.

Owner of the minibuses, Calvin Khan of Bush Lot said he was towing the second bus, BGG 9365 after he received a call from the driver, Shamar Narine, that it had broken down in the other village.

Khan said he had already turned into the dam on the southern side with minibus BHH 4066 which was about 50 feet away from the road while minibus BGG 9365, named “Opposition Leader” was about ten feet off the road. He claimed that the Canter approached with a speed, hit BGG 9365 from behind and sent it toppling. He said the Canter “ran” about 100 ft and hit the trailer, sending it into a resident’s yard.

According to him, Narine avoided being seriously hurt because he bent on the seat when he noticed danger. Khan said residents assisted him to pull the driver and the conductor, known only as “Buckman” out of the bus. He said they were treated for minor bruises at the hospital and sent away.