Woman dies after bus with Berbicians travelling to independence events crashes

A group of Berbicians eager to join the multitudes in Georgetown to celebrate Guyana’s independence and the inauguration of President David Granger encountered tragedy yesterday after the bus in which they were travelling crashed on the West Berbice claiming one life.

Dead is Julie Rodney, 43, of Lot 7, Golden Grove, West Coast Berbice.

The cause of the accident was not clear since relatives who were present at the Georgetown Public Hospital last evening could not say how it happened.

The accident occurred just after 2:00 pm at Number 42 Village, West Berbice.

A relative said that Rodney had a huge laceration to her neck and may have died on the spot.

The other passengers in the bus, which was packed to capacity were all relatives, except for four persons.

All the passengers suffered injuries and were rushed to the Fort Wellington Hospital.

Those with severe injuries were transferred to Georgetown.

Among the injured are Joan Rodney who is said to have sustained a fractured shoulder; Lovena Rodney of Lot 7, Golden Grove, West Coast Berbice; Kimberly Rodney, 23, of Number 28 Village, West Coast Berbice; Allana Mc Kenzie, 17, of Hopetown, West Coast Berbice; Mertland Richmond, 27, of Number 28 Village, West Coast Berbice; Marie Mc Kenzie, of Number 28 Village, West Coast Berbice; Vero Fraser, and her two-year-old grandchild; Joel Joseph, 23; Rayon, (only name given) of Number 28 Village; Chich, (only name given) of Number 29, Village; Nichola (only name given) of Hopetown and Chelsie Semple, 17, of Hopetown.

Relatives of Semple last evening complained of neglect meted out to her at the Georgetown Hospital. Semple who waited at the health institution until 8:00 pm and was unattended to began to cry out in pain which caused relatives to storm the Accident and Emergency area calling on the doctors to consider the pains of the battered teen who was groaning in a wheel chair with a bandaged head and bloody wounds on her face.

The driver of the minibus is said to be in police custody assisting with investigations.