Canal guard dies after buses in head-on collision

A security guard of Canal Number Two, West Bank Demerara, was killed in an accident at Le Ressouvenir, East Coast Demerara, (ECD) following a head-on collision between two minibuses.

Dead is Clive Hercules, 53, of Canal Number Two Polder, WBD. Stabroek News was informed that at around 4.30 yesterday morning, Hercules was a passenger of minibus PTT 7715 driven by Winston Belgrave, 45, of Laing Avenue which collided with minibus BPP 1340 driven by Jagdeo Singh, 37, of Lusignan, ECD.

Dead: Clive Hercules

Two other passengers of Singh’s minibus, Caleb Henry, 24 and Raphael Khemraj, 21, both of Lusignan, ECD were rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) and received medical attention. Khemraj was treated and sent away while Singh and Henry were admitted to the hospital. Belgrave on the other hand was treated at the Woodlands Hospital and admitted in a semi-conscious condition.

The police explained that from enquiries, the driver of PTT 7715 was proceeding west when he was blinded by two bright lights from a vehicle coming in the opposite direction and into his lane. This led Belgrave to pull into the corner of the road in an effort to allow BPP 1340 to pass. However, the vehicles collided head-on and as a result of the impact both occupants of PTT 7715 suffered serious injuries.

Information reaching Stabroek News revealed that first responders could not rescue Hercules

The buses that were involved in the head-on collision at Le Ressouvenir, East Coast Demerara.

immediately since he was pinned inside the vehicle in the front passenger seat. As a result, the members of the Guyana Fire Service were summoned to the scene to aid in his rescue. Accord-ing to eyewitnesses he was freed from the vehicle approximately one hour after the accident occurred and was later pronounced dead on arrival at the GPHC.

First responders were however, able to rescue Belgrave although he was also pinned down in this vehicle. Public-spirited citizens immediately after the accident picked up Singh, Henry and Khemraj and rushed them to the GPHC.

Hercules’ body is presently at Lyken’s Funeral Parlour awaiting a post-mortem examination.