Family flees burning minibus

Last Updated on Saturday, 26 December 2015, 21:01 by GxMedia

A family of three Saturday night experienced a close shave with death when the minibus they were travelling in burst into flames and exploded on Aubrey Barker Street, South Ruimveldt, Georgetown.

The minibus, bearing private registration number PGG 8778, was being driven by “Brother Archer” east along the roadway when it suddenly developed a mechanical problem.

Eyewitnesses said that the vehicle was engulfed in flames and within 20 minutes it was reduced to scrap.

Brother Archer recounted that he was driving along a usually waterlogged section of the roadway in front of the Stain Masters Cleaning Complex when the vehicle’s engine failed. The man’s wife , who was also in the bus along with their child ,noted at the scene that  soon after the minibus developed the mechanical problem, she smelt smoke and the family immediately exited an ran away from the burning vehicle .

Several explosions were heard from the burning vehicle.

The hapless woman said that she left more than $100,000 among other valuables in the vehicle which were all destroyed in the blaze.

Some 15 minutes after the fire started, a fire engine raced to the scene to contain the blaze as traffic was drawn to a crawl along the roadway. Dozens of nearby residents converged at the scene during the fire.