Bus driver found not guilty in passenger’s death at Hauraruni

Six years after he was involved in a fatal accident that claimed the life of his passenger, a minibus driver was yesterday found not guilty of the crime.

The charge of causing death by dangerous driving against driver Clinton John was dismissed by Georgetown magistrate Judy Latchman.

It was alleged that on September 22, 2010, at Hauraruni Public Road, Linden Highway, John drove BLL 8710 in a manner dangerous to the public and caused the death of Rushell Forde.

John was told that given the fact that the prosecution relied mainly on evidence presented by one witness, Anastacia Marks, the court was unable to act solely on her testimony. The magistrate further stated that it was unclear what happened to Forde after she left the Diamond Hospital, where she was taken after the accident.

Additionally, there was no evidence presented by the prosecution as to what caused the death of Forde.

It was on these grounds that the charge against John was dismissed. On the day of the accident, John was heading to Georgetown when the bus he was driving suffered a blowout of its left rear tyre, causing him to lose control of the vehicle. Subsequently, the bus careened off the highway and toppled several times before coming to a halt some distance in some bushes along the road.

All the other passengers were treated for minor injuries, while John and Forde were treated and admitted.