16-year-old motorcyclist killed in Barnwell Road crash; friend critical

A 16-year-old boy was killed Monday evening after the motorcycle he was riding collided with a minibus along the Barnwell Public Road, East Bank Essequibo (EBE).

Dead is Angel Manchan of Ruby Back Dam, East Bank Essequibo (EBE). Police said the fatal accident occurred around 19:20 hours and involved minibus BAG 2484, driven by a 58-year-old man of Edinburgh, West Coast Demerara (WCD), and motorcycle CR 487, which Manchan was riding with a 19-year-old pillion rider from Cornelia Ida.

According to initial police investigations, the minibus was proceeding east along the northern side of Barnwell Public Road at a normal rate of speed when the motorcycle, which was travelling west along the southern side of the roadway at an alleged fast rate, ended up on the northern side and collided with the right-side front portion of the minibus.

The motorcyclist and his passenger were reportedly not wearing safety helmets at the time of the crash.

As a result of the collision, both men were thrown from the motorcycle and landed in a yard on the southern side of the road, sustaining injuries to their bodies.

Public-spirited citizens rushed the injured pair in an unconscious state to the De Kinderen Regional Hospital. Manchan was pronounced dead on arrival, while the 19-year-old pillion rider remains in the hospital’s emergency unit in critical condition.

The body of the teenager is at the Ezekiel Funeral Home awaiting a post-mortem examination.

The driver of the minibus is in police custody, assisting with investigations. Both vehicles involved in the accident have been lodged pending examination.

Police also confirmed that a breathalyser test conducted on the minibus driver detected no trace of alcohol. Investigations are ongoing.