Drunk ‘Santa’ crashes into Goed Fortuin house

A drunken driver crashed into a small home in the Goed Fortuin Squatting area on Sunday evening, leaving two people injured.

Savitri Persaud and her eldest son, Brian Persaud, 27, were talking on their front steps when a Toyota Spacio PPP 8105 came crashing into the front of their home. While Savitri sustained minor abrasions, Brian sustained the brunt of the impact as his body was tossed from the stairs and into a water tank. He was later rushed to the West Demerara Regional Hospital for treatment for injuries to his head and lower body. He is now recovering at home and complaining of head pains.

The driver of the vehicle, identified only as “Santa,” was seen driving the vehicle back and forth along the road before he crashed into the Persauds’ residence.

The inside of Savitri Persaud’s bedroom

“That man was drunk man. I was shaving under the bottom house when I saw him revving the car and the next thing I know is the car coming straight into the house. I barely mek it to run into the house,” Brian’s younger brother, Andy, said. “The car crashed right into the room my babies sleep in… is good thing they weren’t there that night or else they would have been dead now,” he told this newspaper.

He also said that his brother hasn’t been able to work since the accident and that the injury to his head looked serious. “He has a wife and children, who’s gonna look them after? My mother is out of a job too and plus the car damage my cart that I would use to sell fish. I’m a fisherman and I have to make a living now what can I do?” Andy lamented, mentioning that the driver who was detained by police was released.

“When he come out he came by us and spoke to my mother saying he want them to meet up by his boss’s house,” Andy said. He noted that the driver’s boss visited yesterday afternoon and took the car.

“Santa bossman said that he can’t do anything about the matter ’cause he wasn’t driving. He only give Santa the car to work and pay but he willing to help Santa repair the place only if Santa would agree and sign a document,” he explained.

When Stabroek News contacted the driver’s employer, the man said that the matter was settled and he wouldn’t speak further on it. However Persaud’s son argued that his mother wanted to be compensated and no one has approached her about it.

A close relative of the driver said that he would be appearing in the Wales Magistrate’s Court tomorrow.