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by pltm
(PLTM) - Roger Williams, the driver accused of causing the tour bus accident in Cane Garden Bay in December 2015, that left two female American tourists dead, was speeding, based on information provided at the opening of a High Court trial.
Williams is charged with two counts of Manslaughter, and two counts of Causing Death by Dangerous Driving, in relation to the death of the 67 year-old and 53 year-old passengers.
At the opening of the High Court trial today, June 23, Williams was accused of being in a hurry to return to the Tortola Pier Park, to load up another set of passengers, when the tragic incident occurred on Sunday, December 6, 2015.
In the lone vehicle collision, the tour bus, driven by Williams, was carrying 20 cruise passengers who had arrived in the BVI aboard the Celebrity Summit cruise ship. The bus was descending the Cane Garden Bay hill when it collided with the hillside embankment.
Kim Hollis, QC, Director of Public Prosecution (DPP), said that the rainy weather; filling the bus to full capacity; and speeding down the hill, contributed to Williams losing control, which meant that he had no regard for the lives of his passengers.
“We say that he is criminally liable,” she said in her opening address to the jury.
The Crown is alleging that Williams had waited four hours in line before he got his bus filled with passengers, in order to leave the Pier Park. To this end, the DPP said that he was in a hurry to return the passengers to get another load to make the day’s earning.
The DPP said that Prosecution will be bringing a mechanical expert to rebut Williams’ account as to what happened.
Williams, according to the Crown, told police that when he was going up the hill, everything was okay and he showed the passengers the view to Jost Van Dyke and USVI.
However, he said that when he started to descend the hill, there was a pop sound and the vehicle picked up speed, and he made attempts to control it, including to slow down the bus, but collided into the embankment.
He claimed that when he was going down the hill, he was in 2nd gear.
However, the DPP said that upon examination of the area, including the skid marks and the bus, the expert has concluded that Williams was not in 2nd gear when he was traversing down the hill, rather, in 1st gear.
Further, the DPP said the expert findings will also show that he did so at a speed, attempting to shift into 2nd gear, consciously placing his foot on the accelerator.
“It was a runaway train,” the DPP said the expert analysis will show.
It is also alleged that during the journey, Williams had uttered words to the effect that, "up with lightning and down with thunder".
Williams, who is on bail, is being represented by Attorney-at-Law Richard Rowe.
The trial is being heard before Justice Nicola Byer.
