Office of the President Permanent Secretary Dr Nanda Gopaul, who on Friday night crashed into a parked car on Carifesta Avenue, resulting in injury to two passengers in that vehicle, passed a breathalyzer test on the night of the incident, police said yesterday.
Breaking their silence on the matter, the police, in a press release, outlined the details of the accident and said that police were asked by the plaintiff in the matter not to take further action since the parties had reached a settlement.
Colin Loncke, the driver of the other vehicle, told Stabroek News that he was parked in his car outside the Guyana Legion headquarters waiting on his wife Jennifer, who was attending a church meeting. As Jennifer was about to enter the vehicle, Colin said, he heard a loud sound and felt a sudden impact as his vehicle was pushed several feet away. Colin said his wife and friend Dwayne Blair, who had been sitting at the back of the vehicle at the time, were both injured in the accident. He said when he spoke to Gopaul after the accident, he smelt of alcohol.
The accident occurred at about 8.30 pm.
According to the police, “a report was made to the police and traffic ranks were dispatched to the scene.” Upon their arrival, the release said, it was found that Ms Jennifer Loncke had already left for the hospital and her husband Colin Loncke informed the ranks that he was about to go to the hospital to check on her condition.
Loncke, the release said, indicated he would return to assist with the investigations and he was allowed to do so, the release stated. “In the view of the investigating ranks at the scene Nanda Gopaul was not under the influence of alcohol and was allowed to drive his motor vehicle to the Brickdam Police Station, escorted by a rank, who was in the vehicle with him,” the press statement said. “At the Brickdam Police Station Nanda Gopaul was subjected to a breathalyzer test administered by an Inspector of Police, which proved negative. He was then questioned further about the accident and allowed to leave on his own recognizance to return to the station the following day,” it added.
Loncke, police said, reported to the Brickdam Police Station and after giving information on the accident he also was allowed to leave to return the following day. “On the following day, the police was informed by both Colin Loncke and Nanda Gopaul that they had agreed to a settlement and Colin Loncke gave a written statement in which he requested no further police action in the matter,” police further noted.
