Updated: Four dead, five njured in East Bank Demerara smash-up

Last Updated on Saturday, 26 December 2015, 21:00 by GxMedia

The death toll in Friday afternoon’s smash-up between a sand-laden truck and a Mahdia-bound minibus has risen to four.

Six persons, including a two-year old infant, were rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital. The truck driver is said to be unconscious.

Those who perished are 42-year old Felix Culbert “Bertie” Marks of Mahdia and Victoria Road, Plaisance,  Delroy Evans and Loretta Evans of 11 Miles, Mahdia, and Phulmattie Samaroo of Berbice.

Police Force spokesman, Ivelaw Whittaker said investigations so far have revealed that Repish Bhagwandin, 19 years, of Hope, East Coast Demerara, was driving motor lorry GPP 8495 which was loaded with sand and allegedly attempted to pass another motor lorry that was parked on the roadway. In so doing GPP 8495 ended up in the path of route 72 mini bus BPP 3521 that was proceeding in the opposite direction and the vehicles collided.

The minibus was at the time heading to the gold mining township of Mahdia in the Potaro-Siparuni region.