Driver dies, another injured as fully-loaded trucks collide

An accident between two trucks belonging to Aurora Gold Mine on Saturday resulted in the death of Joseph Licorish, a 47-year-old from West Watooka, Wismar Linden and the hospitalization of Nigel Denny, a 41-year-old from Georgetown.

Licorish was driving motor lorry #TL-001 while Denny was driving #TL-19. Police Headquarters reported that Licorish was descending a hill fully loaded with stones in the tray, in the vicinity of an open mining pit area at Aurora in the Cuyuni-Mazaruni District, when it collided with Denny’s truck, which was proceeding up the hill around a slight bend, also fully loaded with stones in the tray.

Denny told the Police that Licorish was approaching him at a fast rate and swerving into his lane. The driver said he pulled to his left to avoid a collision but due to the short distance, the front portion of Licorish’s truck collided with the right side front portion of his lorry, causing it to flip on its left side.

As a result of the collision, both drivers received injuries. The entire cabin of Licorish’s truck was dislodged with the Licorish pinned inside.

The driver was pulled out of the cabin by other workers and was rushed to the Aurora Health Center, along with Denny, where they were both seen and examined by a doctor on duty, who pronounced Licorish dead.

Denny was treated at the said institution for injuries to his head and body and his condition is listed as stable. They were both air-dashed to Georgetown.

“CCTV cameras were seen mounted some distance away on a tower and the footage will be reviewed and analyzed as investigations continue,” the Police release noted.