The relatives of the accountant who was struck down by racing motorcyclists two weeks ago on the Rupert Craig Highway near the seawall, are questioning why police have failed to make arrests even though they are in possession of licence plate numbers, names and addresses.
Their growing concern at the pace of the investigation comes at a time when Franz Welch’s condition has deteriorated. The 33-year-old father of one, who is attached to the local European Union office, was moved to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of the Georgetown last Thursday following concerns over his breathing and general condition. He is currently in an unconscious state and is hocked up to a ventilator.
He was previously a patient of the High Dependency Unit.
Several concerned relatives were gathered at the hospital when Stabroek News visited. His brother Wayne Maison said the doctors have indicated that they are hoping that Welch becomes responsive. Welch’s wife later said that she was told that the man sustained an injury to the brain which had resulted in bad swelling.
She said medication has been administered to reduce the swelling and once that happens, she was told, he would regain consciousness.
A man who identified himself as Welch’s brother said there is a lot of negligence at the hospital since if officials had acted professionally, they would have noticed the severity of the man’s condition and admitted him to the ICU first as opposed to the HDU.
He said that when he first saw Welch, he was a little responsive and was having difficulty breathing. The man said that if one looked at his brother, they would have seen that his injuries were very serious.
Later, an upset Maison called on the Traffic Chief and the ranks at the Kitty Police Station to ensure he and his family gets justice.
The man explained to this newspaper that the police are in possession of the two motorcycles – CF 4513 and CF 5584 – which stuck down Welch on October 25 but have failed to apprehend the drivers. The man provided this newspaper with the names and addresses of the registered owners of the motorcycles. Following the accident, the drivers fled the scene leaving their motorcycles behind.
“Police need to ensure that they go and find them,” he said stressing that he cannot understand why the men are not yet in police custody. Pointing to the sloth of the police investigations, he added, “The police are dancing. It gives me ideas that somebody got paid along the way.”
Around 11:15 Welch, 33, of Lot 1137 Crane Place, South Ruimveldt Park was heading to his vehicle, which was parked near the seawall between Sheriff Street and Conversation Tree when one of the motorcycles struck him down, while the other ran over him and sent him under a 4X4 vehicle close by.
