Essequibo smashup claims four, several others injured

– drunk driving reportedly the cause

In the aftermath of what is being described by Essequibians as one of the worst accidents in recent years, five persons are dead and several others seriously injured.
A minibus carrying partygoers, and a motorcar, were involved in a head on collision on Friday night.
Three persons from the minibus and one occupant of the motorcar are now deceased. Leavon Clay aka Jack, Stefan Benn and Esan Cornette all hailing from Dartmouth; and Gavin Laurie of Plantation Andrews are those that reportedly died while receiving treatment at the Suddie Public Hospital.
According to reports, the driver of minibus BRR 3943, Glensford Stephens, and Ruel Lawrie, who was driving motor-car PMM5867, were both speeding while under the influence. Stephens who was transporting 16 passengers in the minibus, was headed south along the Richmond Public Road while Laurie was heading in the opposite direction when the accident occurred.
It was reported that Stephen was transporting the occupants of the minibus to a party while Laurie was said to be returning to his Plantation Andrews home with Gavin Laurie, Navin Radesh, Maxton and Maxwell Laurie.
The four occupants of the car had earlier travelled to Queenstown Village to transport an employee and were returning home when they collided head on with Stephens’ bus in front of popular hangout spot “Wongies”.
Gavin Laurie died three hours after the accident at the Suddie Public Hospital. He reportedly sustained a broken right leg and severe internal injuries.
The dead man’s teenage sister, Renisa Laurie stated that her family received word of the accident shortly before midnight after a friend called to inform her.
Laurie leaves to mourn his parents and two siblings.
Esan Cornette, a student of the Essequibo Technical Institute (ETI) and was an occupant of the minibus.
His cousin, Osafo Cornette said that Esan left his Darthmouth home some time Friday night to meet with a friend. Osafo stated that around 2am the family learnt of the accident. By the time they had traveled to Richmond; the scene of the accident, Cornette appeared to be dead.
Meanwhile no relatives for Leavon Clay have stepped forward to claim his body. Stephon Benn, 19, reportedly died around 11am on Saturday.
Those hospitalized at the Suddie Public Hospital include, Anil Marks, Alvin Stephen, Glensford Stephens, Caden Clay, Kevin Brummell, Alfred Shepherd, Kevin Clay, Trevon John, Delroy Barrington, Lancel Caesar, Rovon Johnson, Ansel Cornette, Maxwell Laurie and Maxton Laurie, Navin Pradesh and Ruwel Laurie.
Recent accidents on the Essequibo Coast have claimed eleven lives for the first quarter of this year alone.