Five persons died in a horrific smash-up involving a car and a pick-up on the Land of Canaan, East Bank Demerara public road last night,
Dead are brothers 20-year-old Jason and 17-year-old Julian Martin, 19-year-old Colin Fredericks of Plaisance, 16-year-old Ezra Ferguson, and 25-year-old Royston Dempster of Better Hope, East Coast Demerara. The friends had gone to a creek on the highway for the afternoon and were returning home when the accident occurred around 8 pm.
Three pedestrians were also involved in the accident and 10-year-old Priya Ali sustained several broken bones and is a patient at the Georgetown Public Hospital (GPH)
According to reports, the accident occurred at the turn at the Land of Canaan public road. The vehicle, PLL 328, that the five friends were in was heading towards the city and reportedly swerved to avoid the Ali and collided with the pick-up, GJJ 2909. The car was badly crushed.
Ali and her aunt, Nazeena Ali with her husband, Himnauth Agard were heading southwards on the right hand side of the road when the incident occurred. A shaken Nazeena told Stabroek News at the hospital, where she was awaiting treatment that they were heading home when the speeding car came around the turn. She said that it appeared to be swerving and they attempted to get away but it came too quickly. “This car just carry she (Priya) away and pitch me away”, she stated. She landed in a ditch and after recovering began looking for her niece. Agard said that he attempted to hold on to them but they were flung away. Priya was in an unconscious state but was said to be in a stable condition. Following the collision, all but Jason, the driver, were said to have been flung out of the car. It is not clear if any occupants of the pick-up were injured. Another vehicle was also involved but not in a significant way.
Large groups of relatives descended upon the GPH last evening seeking to find out if their relatives were among the dead. Screams erupted and there was loud sobbing as the relatives of some were confirmed dead.
At the Martin’s home, their grandmother, attorney-at-law, Gwendolyn Bristol was inconsolable. The first day of the Bristols’ family reunion had been held at the gymnasium on Mandela Avenue earlier yesterday and Jason had attended. The grieving woman sobbed loudly and repeatedly asked “why”. Jason had been driving his mother, Yulanda Weekes’ car. Their father, Gregory Martin, is in the United States. Bristol told Stabroek News that Jason was a mechanic and Julian was a Third Former at the Apex Academy. She said that every day she read the newspapers to them noting the crimes and accidents and warning them to be careful.
At the Fredericks’ home relatives cried and spoke about him. Neighbours were shocked at the news and wondered how other relatives would take the news that he was dead.
Nicole Ferguson, the mother of 16-year-old Ezra, a Third form student of the Cummings Lodge Secondary said that whenever he went out she kept tabs on him by calling his phone but yesterday afternoon only got his voicemail. Later in the evening, she called again and a strange voice told her to go to the hospital, where she learnt of the younger of her two sons’ death. She said that he had left the home just after mid-day yesterday and had told her that he was going to the creek.
Niki Abrams, the reputed wife of Dempster was heading to the GPH last evening, having heard about the accident and because the father of her two-year-old son, Colin had not yet returned home after leaving with the Martins, who had come to call him earlier yesterday morning. Her worst fears were confirmed upon checking at the police outpost there. Sobbing and asking why she questioned what her son was going to do without his father.
At each home, relatives turned up and many persons expressed shock at the horrific incident.
