his life in the tragic accident
Elton Carter, the driver who allegedly fled the scene after crashing into a minibus on Durban and Smyth Streets, Georgetown last Sunday, was on Tuesday charged when he appeared before Magistrate Judy Latchman for causing death by dangerous driving.
The charge stated that Carter on May 21, 2017, drove motor pickup GRR 8450 in a manner dangerous to the public thereby causing the death of Daniel Gostavos Richmond.
Defence Attorney Stanley Moore seeking to establish that his client is not a flight risk related that Carter is a building contractor who has a fixed place of abode at Eccles, on the East Bank of Demerara.
Moore contended, based on instructions received, that the accused is the owner of the vehicle and was not driving same at the time of the accident, rather contending that the vehicle was driven by a woman. The identity of the alleged female driver remains undisclosed.
The lawyer requested that his client be released on bail in a reasonable sum pending trial, indicating that he (Carter) is anxious to vindicate himself and will attend every court sitting in the event that he is released. Moore disclosed that he represented the accused in an unrelated matter which was recently dismissed.
Police Prosecutor Shellon Payne posed a strong objection to bail being granted in light of three pending trafficking charges which Carter is to face shortly. According to Constable Persaud, the accused is an unlicensed driver and had failed to produce same to Police upon request. Moreover, the vehicle is allegedly uninsured. Also, the court heard that another passenger of the crashed minibus remains in a critical condition at the Georgetown Public Hospital.
Payne told the Magistrate that the accused was non-cooperative during the course of the investigation, reportedly being reluctant to assist investigating officials. She related that after receiving reports, Police found the suspect at a hospital receiving treatment and had been checking in and out of various hospitals during the investigating period thereby hampering the investigation process. She related that the accused, a few days later, told officials that a female was the driver of the vehicle but failed to provide a name or present the alleged driver as required by the law.
Bail was refused by Magistrate Latchman and the lawyer in a failed attempt to establish the ill state of his client, disclosed that Carter presently suffers from whiplash; raising further questions from the court.
According to Health Line, whiplash occurs when a person’s head moves backward and then forward suddenly with great force. This injury is most common following a vehicular collision.
Latchman readily inquired from the counsel how the accused had received the injuries and whether he was involved in the accident, apparently causing the lawyer to lose his balance. After stuttering for a second and quickly gaining his composure, Moore revealed that Carter was a passenger in the vehicle driven by ‘Jane Doe’; his response creating quite a buzz in the courtroom.
Following a lengthy submission by the lawyer, the accused was remanded until June 1 for report as bail was refused by Magistrate Latchman.
This publication previously reported that the accident occurred around 16:00h on May 21, when minibus BVV 5273 was proceeding along Durban Street heading to South, Georgetown, when it was struck from behind by the black pickup which was said to be speeding along Smyth Street headed North. Eyewitness stated that the pickup then hit a parked blue Allion before coming to a halt, while the minibus which was fully loaded toppled a number of times.
Injured persons were pulled from the mangled minibus, some in an unconscious state and Richmond, the now dead man, was said to be “half in and half out of the minibus.” Following the accident, the injured driver of the vehicle reportedly fled the scene.
Meanwhile, the deceased – a former cricket coach, umpire and Guyana Cricket Board scorer – leaves to mourn several family members. (Paula Gomes)
