CoI finds Police culpable for deadly Friendship crash

“There is clear evidence that the Police vehicle was driving at an excessive rate, which was not necessary at that time. It was not part of my convoy, it was not necessary at that time of the morning. The road was clear and there were no obstacles, and again I don’t want to name names but there is a level of culpability in there and the Commissioner of Police will take action in that regard”, President Granger assured.

CoI finds Police culpable for deadly Friendship crash

The Commission of Inquiry conducted into the deadly accident at Friendship which involved a Police car and a private car has laid responsibility for the crash squarely at the feet of the Police driver.

The Police driver and four persons from the other vehicle died in the 15th October accident.

The President who visited the scene of the crash the same morning ordered a Commission of Inquiry the same day.

Today, he told reporters that several recommendations were made by the Commission of Inquiry and he has since forwarded those to the Police Commissioner for immediate action.

“There is clear evidence that the Police vehicle was driving at an excessive rate, which was not necessary at that time. It was not part of my convoy, it was not necessary at that time of the morning. The road was clear and there were no obstacles, and again I don’t want to name names but there is a level of culpability in there and the Commissioner of Police will take action in that regard”, President Granger assured.

He explained that based on the findings, the Police Commissioner has already started to put systems in place to avoid a recurrence.

The President said the accident should not have happened and it remains regrettable for him.

“I deeply regret, it was a great tragedy, if I can say so, it is an accident that ought not to happen but the Police have been warned, I expect that they would be careful not only for human life but also care for the vehicle but we are deeply concerned about the human life”.

Surveillance cameras captured the accident and showed the speeding police car slamming into the private car that was traveling in the opposite direction. A member of the Guyana Defence Force was the driver of the private car and he also died.

A presidential guard who was a passenger in the police car and a woman who was a passenger in the other car were the only survivors of the smash-up.

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