At least ten people died and a number of others were injured following a horrific accident last night in Linden when a ’round the town’ bus slammed into a parked logging truck at Amelia’s Ward as it was ascending a hill.
Dead are Nicola Jones, Lorraine McCurdy, Florence Cummings, Carl Austin, Carl McAlmont, Delroy Mitchell,17, Tyrese McLean, 2, Evelyn Adams, 42, Elaine Lashley – who died on the way to the Georgetown Hospital – and Paul Lewis, the conductor of the bus.
Those injured were Jerome Cruickshank, 29, Shurland Daniels, Fonda Lashley, Stacey Fordyce, and driver of the bus Mark Lewis. All of the dead and injured are said to be from the community of Amelia’s Ward, Linden. The accident occurred sometime after 8 pm. Late last night there were reports that another of the injured persons died on the way to Georgetown but this couldn’t be confirmed at the time.
Reports indicate that the bus BGG 9112 during its ascent of the hill overtook a car and was trying to get past the parked truck GFF 464 when the driver of the bus noticed another vehicle heading in his direction. On seeing the oncoming vehicle, the driver swerved back into his lane and in attempting to do so ended up into the back of the truck.
According to reports from the scene, all of the passengers in the front of the bus died immediately. Witnesses reported seeing body parts scattered at the scene after the impact.
As families scrambled to get information on the fate of their loved ones at the McKenzie Hospital, the scene was one of confusion. Medical staff of the hospital were thronged by the crowds, making their task difficult.
Late last night two persons in critical condition were rushed off for further treatment to the Georgetown Hospital. Up to early this morning large numbers of relatives thronged the hospital for news on relatives.
This accident follows one in May of this year when a collision on the Linden Highway claimed the lives of six people.
The government and traffic authorities have vowed several times in the recent past to curb road deaths but their steps have not been successful. Speeding is said to be the major cause of such accidents and there will be renewed pressure for the government to do something about this. (Additional reporting by Johann Earle)
