Public Works Minister, Bishop Juan Edghill, has defended the integrity of the recently opened Bharrat Jagdeo Demerara River Bridge (BJDRB) after a truck, driven by an unlicensed driver was involved in a fatal accident on Thursday.
Edghill, who has since expressed condolences to the family of the man who died as well as those injured a result of the accident, said that a full investigation is underway.
A section of the Bharrat Jagdeo Demerara River Bridge
The accident occurred during the morning hours when a truck, reportedly experiencing a sudden loss of power and brakes while crossing the bridge, began rolling backwards uncontrollably into vehicles behind.
Edghill said a team of three engineers and a senior mechanic had been sent to the area to inspect the truck and determine the cause of the accident.
‘They will write a report that will be signed, and it will become official evidence, but it is clear that the truck was defective,’ Edghill said, adding that the truck driver was unlicensed.
He said that the extent of the damage to the river crossing will be assessed and that in addition to the criminal and court proceedings to be initiated by the police, the owner and operator of the truck will be held responsible for covering the cost of the damages.
Edghill noted that ‘damage to public property will not go unnoticed, we’ve been saying that if you damage public property, you have to pay,’ insisting that the bridge itself was not at fault for the accident.
Edghill is urging drivers to exercise extreme caution when operating their vehicles and to ensure they are properly licensed.