A female police rank was struck down and killed at the Beterverwagting Police Station while performing duties last night.
The dead policewoman has been identified as Annette Abel of Vigilance on the East Coast of Demerara.
Stabroek News was told that three motor vehicles were involved. One turned over and the other two were badly damaged.
The driver of the speeding motor car that caused the death was allegedly under the influence of alcohol and was subsequently arrested.
Several occupants sustained injuries to their bodies.
The newspaper was reliably informed that another police officer was injured but the state of his condition is unknown.
The police force this morning issued the following release on the accident:
FATAL ACCIDENT AT BETERVERWAGTING
— Female cop Annette Abel dies as speeding vehicle slammed into her at Roadblock operation
Woman Constable 25953 Annette Abel, a 53-year-old of Lot 64 Perth Village, Mahaicony, East Coast Demerara, and attached to the Beterverwagting (BV) Police Station’s Traffic Department, lost her life while on duty last night as she and her colleagues were manning a roadblock outside the BV Police Station.
Constable Abel was killed after the driver of a speeding vehicle (Jeep) jumped the traffic lights, lost control of his vehicle and ploughed into her and another colleague at the roadblock at around 22:00 hrs last night (Thursday).
The tragic accident involved motor Jeep PVV 8278 driven by a 44-year-old man from Front Road, East Ruimveldt, Georgetown, and occupants — a 46-year-old female of ‘A’ Field South Sophia; a 75-year-old male from East Ruimveldt, Georgetown; motor car PNN 8124 driven by a 24-year-old of North Better Hope, East Coast Demerara; motor car PAB 9932 driven by a 30-year-old of Buxton, East Coast Demerara; and Pedestrians — Woman Constable 25953 Annette Abel; and Woman Inspector Shenay Castello, the Inspector in-change at Beterverwagting Police Station.
Investigation disclosed that there was a roadblock on the southern carriageway on the public road in front of the Beterverwagting Police Station. The roadblock was commanded by Woman Inspector Castello, assisted by Corporal 21289 Keshan Collins, Lance Corporal 21463 Jenella Jonas, Woman Constable 25925 Annette Abel, Constable 25124 Brian Tappin and Constable 24718 Wayne Daniels.
Whilst on duty, Woman Constable Abel stopped motor cars PAB 9932 and PNN 8124, which were proceeding West on the southern driving lane of the southern carriageway. Both of the vehicles pulled left and were stationary when the motor Jeep, which was proceeding in the same direction and lane at a fast rate of speed, approached the traffic light signal situated at the junction of Republic Drive, Beterverwagting and the East Coast Highway. At the time the traffic signal was in working order and showing Red in his direction but the Driver drove through the Red light signal and collided with the traffic cones, which were at the centre of the road as part of the roadblock operation.
The driver (who was later breathalysed and found to be above the legal limit) lost control of his vehicle and struck Woman Constable Abel into motor car PAB 9932 which then collided with motor car PNN 8124. The latter vehicle (PNN 8124) then spun and collided with Woman Inspector Castello and one of the drivers, Chris Allen, who were all flung into the air.
Woman Constable Abel landed about 20 feet away on the road surface with her left foot severed below the knee. Woman Inspector Castello and Chris Allen landed on the southern grass parapet. They all received injuries on their bodies, while the motor Jeep turned turtle on the southern grass parapet.
The EMT was summoned and Woman Constable Abel was pronounced dead at the scene.
The occupants of the Jeep all received injuries and were escorted to Georgetown Public Hospital along with the Woman Inspector, where they are seeking medical attention at the Accident and Emergency Unit. The body of Woman Constable Abel was escorted to Memorial Gardens Funeral Home, awaiting a Post-Mortem Examination
The scene was visited last night by Regional Commander 4‘C’ Assistant Commissioner Khali Pareshram and a team of Police ranks. Investigations continue.
