Matthew Stephen Lutchana, 19, an overseas-based Guyanese who fatally hit a pedestrian along the Number 51 Village Public Road on Monday, was yesterday charged with failure to render assistance and failure to stop at the scene of an accident.
Following the accident, which resulted in the death of David Charles Murray, 26, who was crossing the public road when he was hit by the car, Lutchana drove off to some relatives and subsequently turned himself in at the Whim Police Station.
He was charged at the Springlands Magistrate’s Court yesterday and was placed on $20,000 bail.
Lutchana was then re-arrested and released on a substantial amount of station bail in regards to a charge of causing death, for which the police have sought the advice of the Director of Public Prosecutions.
Lutchana’s relatives had told this publication that he drove off because residents flocked his car after the accident, which caused him to panic, and that he was not aware that a police station was located in the vicinity. His relatives also explained that he was expected to leave the country on August 15, but has extended his stay in light of the situation.
Meanwhile, a post-mortem examination has revealed that the main contributing factor to Murray’s death was bronchial asphyxiation.
According to information gathered, Murray had just left a religious function a couple houses from where he lives and was eating something when he was hit, causing him to suffocate.
