When Gubraj Durjan, 33, a part-time mason left his Cotton Tree, West Berbice home for work on July 12, 2012 he never realized he would be involved in an accident that would change his life.
He sustained a broken left foot and is unable to walk while his right hand has been left partially paralyzed. He was struck by a speeding car while crossing the Bath Settlement public road that rainy morning.
He had stopped on his way to work to visit a sick relative but he never made it and was rushed instead to the Fort Wellington Hospital in an unconscious state.
He was then referred to the Georgetown Public Hospital (GPH) where he spent five weeks and underwent two surgeries. Durjan also spent a few weeks at the New Amsterdam Hospital.
The driver of the car, Jason Danny, was arrested and placed before the Fort Wellington Court but the case was dismissed last Wednesday.
Durjan feels that justice was denied. He said although he was the main witness he was never informed that he had to give evidence.
He lamented that he spent over $300,000 to undergo tests and treatment and to hire a taxi to transport him for his monthly visits to the doctor.
He is worried too that he has been unable to earn an income.
His shin bone was badly crushed and doctors inserted a “screw and plate” – that look like an antenna – to hold the other parts of the bones in place.”
He is praying for the day when he can be on his feet again and stressed that he has to be on a mattress on the floor all day and all night.
When it is time to visit the clinic, he has to be helped onto a wheelchair and then into the taxi.
During his last visit to the hospital, he was supposed to be admitted for another surgery “but when the doctor check the x-ray he said they gon give me five weeks more so it can heal.
They might have to graft out a piece of my [hip] bone to fit there [at the crushed part].”
According to him, because of his condition, the driver had promised to compensate him for his expenses.
However, when Durjan’s wife met with the driver he refused to stick to the sum that was agreed upon and offered a much smaller amount. The woman expressed dissatisfaction and he was not compensated.
Durjan recalled that he “watched both sides of the road and saw a car a good distance away and decided to cross.”
He said that the car was coming so fast that before he knew it, he was hit and pitched into the air.
He landed on the bonnet of the car and it drove about 60 ft before coming to a halt and he was then flung onto the parapet.
