– another cop injured after hitting utility pole in separate early morning accidents
Two junior police ranks were involved in separate accidents along the East Bank Demerara (EBD) Public Road less than an hour apart on Sunday morning.
At about 02:30h on Sunday, Police Constable Gavin Gentle of the Bartica Police Station was proceeding south on the Timehri public road, EBD when he lost control of his motor car, PTT 5444, and the vehicle crashed into a utility pole.
Gentle sustained injuries as a result of this collision, and one of his colleagues was reportedly taking him to the Diamond Diagnostic Centre in his personal vehicle, Allion motorcar PPP 8497, under escort of a police vehicle with flashing lights and sounding siren.
At about 3:00 hrs, a male pedestrian was attempting to cross the East Bank Demerara public road, and was in the centre thereof when the constable allegedly swerved from the pedestrian but still struck him down. The pedestrian was picked up, placed in the motorcar and likewise taken to the Diamond Hospital.
This pedestrian was pronounced dead on arrival, but Constable Gentle was treated and transferred to the Georgetown Public Hospital (GPHC), where he has been admitted in serious but stable condition.
It was not clear if Gentle sustained additional injuries as result of the second accident.
According to Police, the driver of PPP 8497 was tested, and no alcohol was traced on his breath. He has nevertheless been detained, and was later seen assisting Police with their investigations. The dead pedestrian is yet to be identified.
When this media house arrived on the scene, the driver was recounting to investigators details surrounding the accident. Investigations into both matters are continuing. (Shemuel Fanfair)
