Police have confirmed that further investigations into the fatal multi-vehicle accident on the Bharrat Jagdeo Demerara River Bridge have revealed that the driver of the motor lorry involved was unable to produce documents for the vehicle, and his driver’s licence does not carry the category required to operate a motor lorry.
The driver and the owner of the motor lorry remain in police custody as investigations continue.
The accident occurred on Thursday, January 29, 2026, on the southern carriageway of the bridge, East Bank Demerara, and resulted in the death of 24-year-old Scott Dorwart of Grove, East Bank Demerara.
Preliminary investigations revealed that motor lorry GAC 296, driven by a 23-year-old male of Anna Catherina, West Coast Demerara, was proceeding west along the northern driving lane of the southern carriageway of the bridge when it reportedly experienced mechanical failure, came to a halt, and subsequently rolled backwards.
The lorry rolled into several vehicles travelling behind it, triggering a series of collisions.
The vehicles involved were motor lorry GAC 296; minibus GSS 1249 driven by a 59-year-old male of Anna Catherina, West Coast Demerara; motor car PAC 372 driven by Dorwart; motorcycle CM 335 driven by a 26-year-old male of Durban Backlands, Georgetown; motor pickup PAL 3390 driven by a 51-year-old male of La Parfaite Harmonie, West Bank Demerara; and motor car PXX 4240 driven by a 43-year-old male of La Parfaite Harmonie, West Bank Demerara.
As a result of the collisions, Dorwart and his occupant, a 23-year-old male of Anna Catherina, West Coast Demerara, sustained injuries. Dorwart was pronounced dead at the scene by a doctor on duty, while the occupant was transported to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation, where he is receiving medical treatment.
A breathalyzer test conducted on the driver of the motor lorry showed a reading of .003 micrograms, which is below the legal limit of 30 micrograms.
