Two drivers were yesterday remanded to prison after being charged with causing the death of an Essequibo Coast man in a three-vehicle accident along the Providence Public Road, East Bank Demerara, on Saturday.
Kord Sobers, 55, of La Parfaite Harmonie, West Bank Demerara, the driver of motor lorry GAF 1093, and Colin Cumberbatch, 31, of Kitty, Georgetown, the driver of minibus BAH 9443, appeared before Magistrate Judy Latchman at the Diamond/Golden Grove Magistrate’s Court, where they were jointly charged with causing death by dangerous driving.
The charge alleges that the two men caused the death of Ruddy Raymond, 36, of Jonestown, Lima, Essequibo Coast, during the accident which occurred on June 20.
The indictable charge was laid under Section 35(1) of the Motor Vehicles and Road Traffic Act.
The accused were not required to plead and were remanded to prison until July 10 for report.
According to police, Raymond was among the passengers travelling in the minibus when the accident occurred along the Providence Public Road.
Investigators said the minibus was proceeding north along the eastern driving lane of the western carriageway, while the lorry was travelling north in the western driving lane.
Police alleged that the lorry made a sharp right turn and entered the path of the minibus, resulting in a collision between the two vehicles.
The impact caused the minibus to strike the median, enter the eastern carriageway and topple onto its right side before colliding with motor car PJJ 1664, which was being driven south by a 28-year-old resident of Diamond, East Bank Demerara.
Raymond was examined by a doctor at the scene and pronounced dead. His body was subsequently taken to the Memorial Gardens Funeral Home, where it is awaiting a post-mortem examination.
Police said the driver of the motor car and a 23-year-old female occupant of Friendship, East Bank Demerara, sustained minor injuries, while the minibus driver and seven passengers were injured and transported to the Diamond Regional Hospital for treatment.
Prior to the charges being laid, police had reported that breathalyser tests conducted on Sobers returned readings of 0.003% and 0.004%.
Video footage of the accident circulating on social media shows the minibus proceeding north along the roadway when the lorry attempted to change lanes. The minibus driver appeared to swerve in an effort to avoid the lorry but collided with it before crashing into the southbound vehicle.
The footage also shows the minibus travelling at a fast rate before mounting the median, striking a section near a lamp post and spinning before coming to rest atop the other vehicle. However, the circumstances surrounding the collision remain under investigation by police.
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