Diamond man dies after crashing in bridge at Belle Vue

An attempt to avoid a head-on collision on with two racing motorcyclists resulted in the death of a 24-year-old man on Friday and an eyewitness has slammed the callousness of bystanders as also contributing to the man’s demise.

Richard Anthony Giddings of 1128 Block X, Diamond Housing Scheme passed away at the West Demerara Regional Hospital (WDRH) on Friday night after his car PEE 2570, crashed into a bridge at Belle Vue, West Bank Demerara sometime around 7.45 pm. The Police have issued a press release stating that investigations are in progress.

According to an eyewitness who requested an-onymity, he was sitting a few metres away when he saw Giddings who was heading north, swerve away from two southbound motorcyclists who were racing.

The eyewitness pointed out that speed was a factor in the accident.

Richard Giddings
Richard Giddings

He went on to say that Giddings’ intention to avoid the collision resulted in him losing control when the car’s front wheel dropped into a rut and struck a sudden bump. As a result, the car somersaulted in the air and Giddings fell out. He struck his head against the wall which also serves as a rail for the bridge, and the car plunged front-first into the opposite rail.

“If you see this thing! This thing like a picture [movie] story…” the eyewitness said with a concerned look on his face.

He also lamented that after the accident, Giddings was bleeding profusely while almost 100 persons flocked around him just staring.

“Every [expletive] body stand up and just watching. Nobody didn’t want to take him to the hospital. One ah dem say how he car clean and he nah want blood on it. If dem de move he quick, I think de banna woulda be alive but wha I gun say? Is Guyanese…” he said.

Compton Giddings, the father of the deceased told Stabroek News yesterday that he along with his wife and Richard were at their former home in Goed Intent having a family moment.

He related that he left with his wife as Richard remained behind. The distraught father further related that his wife, had called Richard to inquire where he was and when he was coming home and he told her that he was on his way.

“The next call I get, we heard that he was in an accident…” he said.

The Bridge where the incident occurred.
The Bridge where the incident occurred.

Compton said that his son died at the WDRH after several attempts to resuscitate him failed.

He described his son as a loving child with great potential.

“He only celebrated his birthday on the 2nd of this month and had promised to bring home his girlfriend to meet his mother on New Year’s Day…” Compton said.

He will be cremated on Tuesday.