Relatives of 33-year old Yogeshwar Samaroo, who died following an accident on the Diamond Housing Scheme public road on Sun-day evening, have expressed hope that a thorough investigation will be undertaken regarding the incident.
Samaroo, a mason of Section B, Diamond Housing Scheme was pronounced dead at the Diamond Diagnostic Centre several minutes after he collided with a canter truck, bearing registration GHH 7272.
According to the police, investigations into the incident revealed that Samaroo, a pedal cyclist, was proceeding along the roadway when it is alleged that he rode into the path of the vehicle and was struck down.
However, the man’s relatives told Stabroek News yesterday that Samaroo had already crossed the roadway when he was struck down. His mother noted that Samaroo had moments earlier left his aunt’s residence in the nearby Grove area and according to her, he had crossed the roadway when the incident occurred.
The spot where the impact occurred was marked close to the eastern section of the roadway, when this newspaper visited the scene yesterday.
His mother said on the night of the accident her relatives had confronted the driver and two females who were in the vehicle at the time and according to her, the women stated that they had cautioned the driver “to slow down”.
Another relative noted that the truck had stopped more than 20 feet away from the point of impact and according to him a breathalyzer test should have been undertaken to determine whether the driver was intoxicated. The police did not state whether this was done.
The driver of the vehicle is in police custody assisting with investigations.
Sunday night’s accident was the latest fatal one on the country’s roadways over the past few weeks. Last Sunday, Deoran Choonilall, 19, and Premanand Ramnarine, 30, both of Back Street, Ruimzeight were pronounced dead on arrival at the Leonora Cottage Hospital, police said. Choonilall’s older brother, Chaitram Choonilall, 20, was also in the car at the time. He sustained minor injuries and was treated and sent away.
And the day, before a collision between two vehicles on the Vryheid’s Lust, East Coast Demerara public road left one driver dead and the other injured. Ravi Singh, 31, of Montrose, ECD, was driving motor car PLL 9680 when he lost control of the vehicle and collided with motor van PFF 2416 which was proceeding in the opposite direction. He was pronounced dead on arrival at the Georgetown Public Hospital.