Lorry mechanical failure in deadly Demerara River bridge mishap, probe into driving licence eligibility

Last Updated on Friday, 30 January 2026, 10:28 by Writer

A mechanical failure on Thursday caused a motor lorry to roll back down the westward carriageway of the Bharrat Jagdeo Demerara River Bridge (BJDRB) and caused a multi-vehicle collision, killing one person and seriously injuring another, the Guyana Police Force said.

“Preliminary investigations revealed that motor lorry GAC 296, driven by a 23-year-old male of Anna Catherina, West Coast Demerara, was proceeding west along the northern driving lane of the southern carriageway of the bridge when it reportedly experienced mechanical failure, came to a halt and subsequently rolled backwards, resulting in a series of collisions with vehicles travelling behind in the same carriageway,” police said in a statement.

The driver and the owner of the lorry, a 55-year-old man of Anna Catherina, West Coast Demerara, are in police custody assisting with the investigation, the force said.

Demerara Waves Online News was told that police licence certifying officer and crime scene detectives conducted investigations. The lorry and five other vehicles were involved in the accident that occurred at about 9:45 a.m on Thursday.

Sources said police were also looking into whether the lorry driver obtained his licence legitimately or through irregular means as investigators suspect that he might not have chalked up the required number of years as a car driver before he was granted a lorry driver’s licence.

According to police, 24-year old Scott Dorwart of Grove, East Bank Demerara, who was driving PAC 372, died on the spot while the other occupant of that car, a 23-year-old man of Anna Catherina, West Coast Demerara was rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital where he remained a patient.

The other vehicles that were damaged in the accident are minibus GSS 1249 driven by a 59-year-old man of Anna Catherina, West Coast Demerara; motorcycle CM 335 driven by a 26-year-old man of D’urban Backlands, Georgetown; motor pickup PAL 3390 driven by a 51-year-old man of La Parfaite Harmonie, West Bank Demerara, and motor car PXX 4240 driven by a 43-year-old man of La Parfaite Harmonie, West Bank Demerara.

Police also said a breathalyser test conducted on the driver of the lorry showed a reading of .003 micrograms, which is below the legal limit of 30 micrograms.