Bank clerk crashes into utility pole and dies

A Berbice bank clerk died tragically yesterday, after she lost control of her car and slammed into a utility pole at the Seawell turn, directly opposite the Guyoil gas station.

Dead is Shabana Ali, 30, of Lot 7 Ramphal Street, Nigg, Corentyne, Berbice who was a senior clerk at the Guyana Bank for Trade and Industry branch, located at Lot 2 Area Q, Port Mourant, Corentyne.

According to reports, Ali left her home sometime after 8 am yesterday and was heading to Georgetown for a recreational activity planned by the bank. However, she lost control of her Toyota Vitz, PNN 198, and crashed sideways into a Guyana Power and Light utility pole, splitting the pole into two. Reports said the driver of another vehicle, who was passing picked up Ali and rushed her to the New Amsterdam Public Hospital, where she was pronounced dead on arrival.

Shabana Ali

Ali’s brother-in-law, Raj Etwaroo, of Canefield, East Canje, told Stabroek News that minutes after 9 am, the family heard that Ali had been involved in an accident. “My brother ask me to come and see, because me live in Canje,” he said. “But before I could reach the turn, we hear she deh hospital so I go there. I went and identified myself as a family and then I was told she passed away.”

Etwaroo, who was at the scene at the time of the interview, pointed out that no animals were on the road to show that she collided with anything, leaving family members and even police ranks puzzled as to what exactly happened.

According to Etwaroo, who identified Ali’s body at the hospital, she sustained severe head injuries and other injuries about the body.

Shabana Ali’s car after the crash

Ali’s husband Vejay Etwaroo, who is a supervisor at DSL Cash and Carry, New Amsterdam, was inconsolable and could not speak with Stabroek News.

Her brother, Zaman Ali from Skeldon, who was at the hospital when this publication visited, sat on a bench alone shedding tears.

Ali said he last spoke to his sister on Friday and she told him that she was heading to Georgetown yesterday. “This morning me left to go to work when me get the call wah happen,” he said.

Ali leaves to mourn her four-year-old daughter, her husband, parents, siblings and other relatives and friends. She was attached to GBTI for about eight years now and had the responsibilities of a verification and credit officer.

She was described as always being a helpful, kindhearted person.