Family of three die in Lethem accident

Jagnarine Stephen, a 23-year-old motorcyclist, his 24-year-old wife, Kyrea Stephen, and their two-year-old daughter, Laurel Stephen, lost their lives in an accident at around 11:20 hrs on Sunday on the Pirara Trail Road, Central Lethem, Region Nine.

The family, from Yakarinta Village, North Rupununi, was travelling on a red and black motorcycle when they were struck by minibus BAC 8020, owned by Shawn Pedro of Tabatinga, Lethem, and driven at the time by Darwell Bernard, a 34-year-old resident of Katoka Village.

According to police enquiries, the minibus was proceeding north along the Pirara Trail at about 50 km/h when, while negotiating a turn, it collided with the motorcycle, which was heading in the opposite direction at a fast rate.

The impact threw the family from the motorcycle, causing them to fall onto the trail and sustain multiple injuries. An Emergency Medical Team from the Lethem Hospital was summoned and arrived shortly afterwards with an ambulance and the doctor on duty. The motorcyclist and his two-year-old daughter were pronounced dead at the scene, while his wife, who was unconscious, succumbed to her injuries while being transported to the Lethem Regional Hospital.

The bodies were taken to the Lethem Regional Hospital mortuary for storage, pending post-mortem examinations.

The minibus driver was arrested and placed in custody. Two breathalyser tests were conducted, both of which showed no trace of alcohol. Investigations are ongoing.