Several students were among persons injured on Monday after the bus in which they were travelling veered out of control and ended up in a trench on the Borlam Turn, Corentyne.
According to reports, at approximately 17:30h on Monday, minibus BSS 891 was on its way from New Amsterdam when the driver, who was reportedly speeding, lost control of the vehicle.
According to eyewitnesses, the bus was filled with mostly schoolchildren from the New Amsterdam Technical Institute (NATI) and was travelling east heading to Corriverton. “The driver was speeding and overtook two vehicles, but when he approached the turn, he lost control of the vehicle.”
The bus ran off the road, cutting a lamp post in two, and flipped several times in the air before landing on its sides facing the opposite direction in the roadside trench. During the process, several parts of the vehicle flew off, including the sliding door which landed a few feet away from the bus. Villagers rushed to the scene and rendered assistance to the injured.
An eyewitness said, “I was sitting outside when I heard a loud noise; when I looked up the road, I saw the bus in the trench and some children from the NATI coming out soaked and some of them covered in blood, I immediately rushed over and assisted in getting the others out to the hospital.”
The vehicle was badly damaged and it was a miracle that no one suffered fatal injuries. One student reportedly lost an ear during the accident. Several other persons were admitted to the hospital nursing injuries varying from a fractured hand to cuts and bruises.
One of the passengers said they urged the driver to slow down; however, the driver, who was only identified as “Chris”, did not heed their call. He fled the scene immediately after the accident without rendering any assistance to the injured. Police are continuing their investigation.
