Probe into Friendship fatal crash concluded; use of sirens major concern
The Board of Inquiry which was set up last week to investigate the circumstances surrounding that horrific crash at Friendship East Bank Demerara which claimed the lives of five persons including one Guyana Defense Force Rank and two police officers on Tuesday last is complete. While it is not clear just yet if the report was handed over to President Granger who ordered the inquiry, BIG Smith Crime Watch has been told that the use of sirens by police and other emergency vehicles formed a major part of the proceedings. The Board of Inquiry which headed by Deputy Commissioner Paul Williams and also has Senior Superintendents Calvin Brutus and Linden Isles lasted for three days.
Police Sources indicated that the report was completed and handed over to the Commissioner of Police acting, Nigel Hoppie.
While much of the contents of the BOI’s findings were not made known BIG Smith Crime Watch, we were told that specifics focus was placed on the sue of sirens especially by police vehicles and other emergency vehicles. It was also at the BOI that the panel was reassured that President Granger himself is not fond the use of sirens when traveling hence the question as it relates to the ‘sweep car’s’ decision to use the sirens en rout the president’s private residence was questioned.
Persons from within the Presidential Guard who were questioned by the BOI were also specifically asked about the reports of the now dead driver of the police sweep car claiming that he was not feeling well before being sent on duty, those claims were reportedly debunked by his supervisors who were called before the BOI. The two lone survivors of the crash were also questioned by the BOI.
The accident involved a police car which is used as the sweep car for the presidential escort and a Fielder Wagon, owned and driven by a Guyana Defence Force Sargent. Four persons from that car died in the crash while one woman survived and another one police man who was in the sweep car also survived the crash.
A video recording of the head on collision showed that the police car ended up in the path of the wagon even as the driver of that latter car attempted to pull to the shoulder of the road to facilitate the speeding police car with flashing headlamps and blue and red lights, a pass.
