Four months after three young adults lost their lives in an accident along the Whim Public Road, Corentyne Berbice, a police constable, will be arraigned before a Magistrate this week on three counts of causing death by dangerous driving.
The three charges will be read against 21-year-old Simion Alder of Scothburg, Corriverton. The accident occurred on August 2, 2020.
Those killed are Guyana Defence Force (GDF) rank Kwesi Lewis; Reyon Moriah, 25, of Circle Street, Corriverton, Berbice; and 20-year-old Jessica Gallaway of David Street Rose Hall Town, Berbice.
The trio, along with Kerron Alder, was in a dark coloured Toyota Allion bearing registration number PWW 582 heading to Rose Hall Town to drop off Gallaway from an event at Alness village on the Corentyne, when the driver ran into the back of a truck that had moments before collided with another car.
According to police reports, at around 23:30 hours, two motor cars PGG 9262 and PWW 582, collided with motor lorry GJJ 5939 as the driver was about to park on the parapet.
Persons recalled hearing a bang, and upon investigation, they saw a burgundy Toyota Carina bearing registration number PGG 9262 badly mangled on the front right side fender and the driver nursing minor injuries.
After, the vehicle ran into the rear right wheel of the lorry a short distance away from the entrance of the Whim Police Station Street.
As residents were rendering assistance, Alder’s vehicle came crashing into the rear of the lorry. The impact ripped the roof off of the car and sent it careening into the nearby trench.
The injured were rushed to the nearby Port Mourant Hospital, where the trio was pronounced dead on arrival. Breathalyser tests showed that both cars’ drivers were under the influence of alcohol and above the legal limit, while the driver of the truck tested zero.
Following the accident, Alder was charged with driving under the influence and was released on $20,000 bail following his not guilty plea.
He was also charged with driving an uninsured motor vehicle; he pleaded guilty to this charge and was fined $20,000.
Upon completion of a thorough investigation, a file was sent to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Shalimar Ali-Hack, who advised that charges be laid against Constable Alder.
