The investigation into the one-week old accident which claimed the life of former national cyclist Jude Bentley is “almost” complete and the police are expected to seek legal advice in the new week, Traffic Chief Linden Isles said yesterday.
Contacted for an update yesterday afternoon, Isles told Stabroek News that ranks were working to wrap up the investigation.
He said the case file was expected to reach his desk early in the new week after which it will be dispatched for legal advice.
Bentley was struck while cycling along Clive Lloyd Drive by a vehicle driven by former Guyana Defence Force (GDF) Chief of Staff Gary Best.
Best, a retired Rear Admiral, was arrested by police last Saturday morning after the fatal accident.
The accident occurred at approximately 4.31 am on the northern side of the Russian Embassy as Bentley, 41, of Lot 33 Robb Street, Georgetown, was on his way to meet a group of cyclists for training. Best, who was driving an SUV, #PRR 8182, was proceeding in the same direction.
In a statement issued last Saturday night, the police, who did not name Best, but identified him as a 61-year-old resident of Sparendaam, East Coast Demerara, said he disclosed that he was proceeding east along the southern lane. He alleged that the cyclist suddenly appeared in front of him and that he applied brakes and the right side of the front of his vehicle collided with the cyclist, who fell onto the roadway and sustained injuries.
After the impact, the vehicle dislodged a lamp pole on the southern side of the road.
The police had said that Bentley was pronounced dead at the accident scene.
An autopsy later revealed that Bentley died as a result of multiple injuries.
Best, who failed a breathalyser test, was taken to the Georgetown Public Hospital on Sunday morning after he complained of feeling unwell. While there, he was under police guard.
On Monday afternoon, Best was discharged from the hospital. Hours after he was placed on $100,000 station bail and his passport was lodged.
Sources had told this newspaper that at the time of the accident, Best was heading home after leaving a city nightspot. He reportedly told the police at the scene that he did not see Bentley since he was not wearing any reflectors and had no lights.
However, Bentley’s relatives have since denied his claim, while noting that he was “fully geared”. Their position has been supported by a short video from the camera of a vehicle that recorded Bentley cycling minutes before he met his demise.
In the video, which was uploaded to Facebook, Bentley can be seen riding east along Carifesta Avenue, approaching the Kitty roundabout. From a distance, a red “blinking” light can be seen at the rear of his bicycle.
Best said he tried to avoid hitting Bentley but still came into contact with the bicycle. Bentley was dragged several feet away from the point of impact before the vehicle came to halt.
On Tuesday, Best announced the suspension of his public campaign appearances in an effort to facilitate the ongoing police investigation into the fatal accident.
In the statement, Best said that the decision will also allow the investigation to proceed “fairly, professionally and without hints of interference”.
