Two survivors from the collision at Kwakwani on Wednes-day evening alleged that the driver of the pick-up had been speeding along the trail. The man will most likely be charged, a police source has said.
In a press release yesterday, the first since the incident, police said the collision occurred around 17:30 hrs that day. Minibus BKK 8120, driven by Mark Adams, and motor pickup GLL 794, driven by Sherwin Sealey, collided along the Mines Road at Kwakwani.
As a result of the collision Remington “Tuts” Wade, 40, and Terrence Budburg, 30, both of Kwakwani (Upper Berbice/Upper Demerara) died. Injured are Jason Sampson, 29; George Shakespeare, 45; Glendon Shakespeare, 40; Mark Adams, 37; Joel Merchant, 16; Cheston Jones, 21; Otis Conway, 37; Lambert Daniels; Wilbert Williams, 31; Lindon Burkoye, 40; Clive Lagoudou, 41; Andrew Courtman, 39; Harlo Andrian, 43; Sherwin Sealey and his 10-year-old son.
The injured were air-dashed to the city on Wednesday night for immediate medical attention. If the usual procedures were followed, they would have first been taken to the Linden Hospital Complex. However, there were no ambulances at the Kwakwani facility and this prompted the decision to have them flown to Georgetown.
At the Georgetown Public Hospital (GPH) this newspaper learnt that Burkoye had been discharged while the others remained hospitalized. The majority of the patients were resting when this newspaper visited. They were all listed as being in stable condition up to last evening.
Cousins George and Glendon Shakespeare were the only persons who were able to speak with Stabroek News. Both men had begged Sealey for a drop from the mines to Kwakwani. They said it was not the first time they had done this. Sealey, they further alleged, was known for his “speed, speed driving”.
As they drove along the trail, Glendon recalled, it was dry and dusty as usual and the area was already dark. Sealey, he alleged, was speeding. “De last thing I remember is that this man [Sealey] was speeding and then he start to swerve and the next thing I know I flying through the air… I get pitch right out ah de pick-up tray,” Glendon related. “When I wake up again I was in de Kwakwani hospital.”
George suffered a broken right leg and has abrasions to various parts of his body. As the man spoke with Stabroek News it was obvious that he was in much pain. He, too, was thrown from the pick-up’s tray and lost consciousness. Like Glendon, he too recounted that the pickup had been speeding and swerving shortly before.
“After I get pitch out of this pick-up I thought is dead I de dead right away,” George said. “I de actually surprised when I wake up back and realize is hospital I reach.”
The bodies of Wade and Budburg were taken to the Linden hospital morgue early last evening. Stabroek News has been unable to speak with the relatives of either man. Budburg, this newspaper understands, lived with his reputed wife.
Meanwhile, when this newspaper visited the scene of the incident the damaged vehicles were still there.
The front of the minibus was badly damaged, more so to the front passenger side where Wade had been sitting. The pickup’s cab had been reshaped by the impact.
Initial reports reaching this newspaper had said that the minibus was headed to Aroaima and the pick-up to Kwakwani. Both vehicles were moving up an elevation in the road and as a result neither could see the other. Reports had said that Sealey, the pickup driver, was in the minibus’s lane and it was he who had been speeding.
Stabroek News has since learnt from a police source that Sealey will most likely be charged.
