One man is dead and another in serious condition at the Georgetown Public Hospital (GPHC) after two cars, reportedly speeding, lost control along the Ruby Public Road, East Bank Essequibo early yesterday morning.
The deceased, Ramesh Sookhdeo called ‘Jerry’, 26, of Lot 1 Parika Facade, EBE was heading home sometime after 1 am when he lost control of his vehicle. The car, according to reports “ripped away” three fences and smashed into the posts of the Lot 12 Ruby home located along the roadway.
Police, in a press statement issued yesterday, said they are investigating “a fatal accident that occurred at about 1.45 am”. Investigations, the release stated, revealed that motor car PKK 1134, reportedly driven by Sookhdeo, “attempted to overtake motor car PLL 5706 which was being driven by Romeo Randolph, and in doing so struck the rear of PLL 5706”. As a result both drivers lost control of their vehicles.
Sookhdeo, according to reports, was thrown from the vehicle and sustained injuries. He was taken to the West Demerara Regional Hospital (WDRH) where he was pronounced dead on arrival.
Richard Whyte, a passenger in Sookhdeo’s vehicle, sustained injuries as well. Whyte, 27, of Hydronie, Parika was rushed to the WDRH and later transferred to GPHC where he remained in serious condition up to last night.
Davanand Persaud, Anthony Boodhoo and their cousin identified only as “Buddy” were being transported in PLL 5705 driven by Randolph. The men sustained minor injuries.
Sookhdeo’s relatives were preparing for a wake yesterday afternoon when this newspaper visited their Parika Facade home. The six people involved in the accident, relatives said, were related.
“They went somewhere on the West Coast,” Sookhdeo’s mother said. “…is home they de coming when this thing happen,” she explained; tears beginning to trickle down her cheeks.
Sookhdeo leaves to mourn his parents, brother, two sisters, relatives and friends. He was a well known minibus conductor along Route 32 (West Coast Demerara/Parika).
“Two cars under the house…”
Bibi Shazeeda Karim and her family were asleep in the upper flat of their Lot 12 Ruby home when they were awakened by “a loud noise”.
Three posts made of concrete blocks, which supported the front of the upper flat wooden home, were completely torn away when Randolph’s vehicle followed by Sookhdeo’s skidded “right through them”.
Residents said that the six people involved in the accident were returning from a Chutney Show held along the West Coast. The cars, one resident said, had been racing and it was the “high speed” which resulted in them losing control.
“They went to this Chutney show,” the resident said. “They had been drinking…that is how they end up clearing three fences and smashing the posts of this house [Karim’s house].”
The air bags in the car being driven by Randolph, according to residents, saved the occupants from further injury.
“After we hear this big commotion,” another resident recalled. “We rush out to help them…one of the car was directly under the house and the other one end up right next to the steps of the other house next door. The two boys [Sookhdeo and Whyte] woulda been alright if their air bags de working.”
The destruction of the supporting posts resulted in the Karim’s house leaning heavily towards the front. A very distressed Karim yesterday explained that her entire house was damaged as a result of the impact.
“Two cars under the house, that is what my husband said to me after we were awakened by a loud noise,” Karim recalled. “At first I couldn’t believe him…I mean how could two cars end up under our house?”
Karim explained that her floorboards were cracked, furniture toppled, ornaments and wares smashed. The remaining supporting posts, she said, sustained minor damages from the impact.
“I don’t know what we’re going to do,” the distressed woman said. “It’s too dangerous for us to stay in the house and we can’t afford to rebuild.”
The woman said that although she understands that Sookhdeo’s relatives are in distress she has been plunged into equal despair as well. Karim expressed hope that relatives of those involved in the accident will be able to provide compensation.
“They started to scream…I had to gather them and rush out of the house because we were afraid that the entire thing would collapse,” Karim recalled. “We were all terrified.”
Police ranks were present at the Karim residence when Stabroek News visited the area shortly after midday yesterday. Relatives and neighbours had already made efforts to temporarily replace the missing posts.
