Preschooler is 20th road death

Gifnie Pinas (5) died in a traffic accident that took place along the Oost-West verbinding in the Marowijne District on Wednesday. The preschooler is reportedly the nation’s 20th road death. District Attorney Bibian Tjin Liep Shie told Times of Suriname that the driver of a pickup truck caused the deadly traffic accident. She explained that the driver has a valid driver’s license. The Public Relations Department at the Police Force Suriname (KPS) told Times of Suriname that the preschooler was hit by a school bus and that the girl died at the scene of the accident. The school bus driver told the police that he was headed to Moengo and that two vehicles were behind him. When he had reached road marker KM 66 near Perica, he reduced speed because he saw a woman and her two children alongside the road. He suddenly heard a loud bang and concluded that he had been rammed from behind by a pickup truck. The force of the impact pushed the school bus forward and the bus then hit the two children. Gifnie died at the scene and the other child sustained a graze. The mother of the children remained unharmed. The driver of the pickup truck claimed that he was trying to overtake the school bus but that he pulled back when he saw a car approaching from the opposite direction. The third vehicle that was driving behind the pickup truck also wanted to overtake the vehicles. When the driver of the pickup truck tried to return to his side of the road, he rammed the school bus and the third vehicle. All three drivers have valid driver’s licenses and were not under the influence of alcohol. District Attorney Tjin Liep Shie urged all drivers to keep the safety of each traffic participant in mind and to keep enough distance between their vehicle and other vehicles.