A 45-year-old businessman died this morning after a speeding truck crashed into his vehicle on Mandela Avenue, Georgetown.
Dead is Nigel Cush, a father of four of Roxanne Burnham Gardens, Georgetown. Cush owned and operated the Grill and Jerk bar which is located on South Road.
Police today confirmed the accident which occurred around 01.30hrs. At the time, Cush was the driver of motor vehicle, PVV 7062. It is believed that he was heading home.
The 44-year-old driver of motor lorry, GYY 5875, who resides at Supply, Mahaica is presently in police custody assisting with the investigation.
He was subjected to a breathalyzer test and no trace of alcohol was found, the police said.
As a result of the collision, Cush’s vehicle was slammed into a utility pole. He was pitched out of his vehicle through the front windscreen and apparently died on the spot.
The accident was captured on surveillance footage which shows a different version from that provided by the driver.
In the footage which was seen by Stabroek News, it was observed that the truck driver breached the red traffic light causing him to crash into Cush.
Cush’s vehicle was seen exiting a road. As he approached Mandela Avenue, he stopped for a short while. Cush then proceeded upon the green light during which his vehicle was hit by the truck.
As the video circulated on social media site, Facebook, members of the public raised concerns about the manner in which trucks, particularly those which transport sand use the roadways on a daily basis.
“On a serious note, as a regular road user, I am aghast how others used the roadways daily. I have witnessed on many occasions, these huge trucks with sand, stones and other building materials speeding through the busy traffic, having no consideration for other users. These operators, operate as though they are the lone road users,” former Minister in the Ministry of Public Infrastructure and Opposition member, Annette Ferguson wrote in a post.
Ferguson called for more “stringent” measures to be put in place for operators of these trucks. “The time has come for stringent measures to be put in place, regarding the operations of these trucks and also to have them policed and enforced,” she said.
Executive Director of the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce & Industry, Richard Rambarran said “something needs to be urgently done about the aggressive, reckless and dangerous driving of trucks on the road”.
