Truck driver freed of charges in Agricola accident that killed Ciara Benjamin

The driver who was charged after his truck crashed into the median at Agricola, East Bank Demerara and killed seven-year-old Ciara Benjamin in 2019, was on Tuesday freed because of insufficient evidence.

Danion Welcome, 40, of Turkeyen, East Coast Demerara, was on trial before City Magistrate Leron Daly for the charge which alleged that on June 1, 2019 he drove motor lorry GWW 962 in a dangerous manner which resulted in the death of Benjamin.

On Tuesday, the Magistrate ruled in favour of a no-case submission made by Welcome’s attorney Dexter Todd on the grounds of insufficient evidence.  As such, Welcome was discharged of the offence.

According to reports, on the day in question at about 16:10hrs, Welcome was heading north along the western carriageway along the Agricola public road at a fast rate of speed when he lost control of the motor lorry.

Video showed that he swerved and collided with the little girl who was standing on the road’s median as she was waiting to cross the road with her babysitter.