Where is Wayne Collins?

by MARIA BRADSHAW 10.AUG.07

POLICE HAVE CONFIRMED that Wayne Collins of Grape Hall, St Lucy, Barbados was driving the van Z7950 when his girlfriend Gail Depeiza, their two children Shaquana, 8, and Shadane, 6, and Gail’s niece Claire Smith,15, lost their lives after a collision with another vehicle on Mullins Road, St Peter.{{more}}

But a week after the accident, police said they are still waiting for Collins to visit the District “E” station to be interviewed.

Initial police reports said that 39-year-old Gail was driving the van, but this report baffled her family who pointed out that she was not the holder of a driver’s licence.

A senior police officer said yesterday: “We have a number of statements from eyewitnesses confirming that the owner of the van, Wayne Collins, was driving it when the accident occurred and we also interviewed one of the surviving victims who also said that he was driving.”

Collins, who lived with Gail, was last seen by relatives at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, and police said they had also received reports that he was spotted in Bridgetown a few days ago.

Gail’s father, Alfred Gibbs, said yesterday that when the family set out for a beach outing last Wednesday Collins was driving the van.

“He came to my house and picked up Claire and Marissa. Claire got in the seat next to him and Gail was in the back seat. He leave here driving the van and I haven’t seen him since.”

The 64-year-old man said he was concerned when police reported that his daughter was driving.

“I never even seen her walk a bicycle,” he said, pointing out that when he was taken by the police to identify the bodies at the scene of the accident Gail was in the back seat while Claire was in front on the driver’s side because the vehicle had turned over on the right.

He added that one of his daughters saw Collins at the hospital on the evening of the accident.

“He was sitting in a wheel chair, but when the doctors and the police went looking for him they realised he was gone.”

Gibbs, who is taking care of Gail’s other son Shaquille, who was at home when the accident occurred, said the family was still in the process of making funeral arrangements, but that they were hoping to have one burial.

Meanwhile, police disclosed that four-year-old Shamario might have to remain in the hospital for a while longer since he suffered a broken hand and other injuries. However, 11-year-old Marissa Depeiza, daughter of one of Gibbs’ sons, was improving and should be discharged shortly. (Nation)