The driver of the Route 31 (Georgetown to Wales) minibus that crashed into a car at Nismes, West Bank Demerara, resulting in the deaths of four persons and the injury of several, was on Thursday released on a total of $120,000 bail after he was charged with three traffic offences.
Campton Bagot Jr appeared before Magistrate Zamilla Ally-Seepaul at the Wales Magistrate’s Court, where he was charged with breach of insurance, failure to report the accident, and failure to render assistance to the injured persons.
He pleaded not guilty to the charges and was granted his release on bail.
The matter was adjourned until January 23.
Bagot Jr is expected to face additional charges as Sunday Stabroek was informed that the police are currently awaiting legal advice in relation to the four deaths.
The accident occurred around 8 pm on November 30th, following a collision between the minibus, BYY 2981, and a car, PTT 691, in the vicinity of a gas station along the Nismes Public Road.
At least 20 persons were involved in the accident.
The collision resulted in the deaths of the driver of the car Paul Glen, 52, and minibus passengers Ayesha Sealey, 28, Maria Bisnauth, 12, and Zavira Jona, 22.
Glen’s car was hit by the speeding Route 31 minibus a few seconds after exiting a gas station.
One witness said, “The car was coming out from the gas station and the bus just crash up into it.”
Following the accident, surveillance camera footage from the gas station confirmed that the minibus was speeding. CCTV footage shows the car being driven onto the main road. Seconds after the car attempted to turn onto the eastern lane of the road, the speeding bus collided with it, causing both vehicles to turn turtle and land in a nearby drain.
