The police in Region Five say they are still investigating the accident which left Nathanael Ledra dead last month after a collision with a Ministry of Finance vehicle along the Number Three Village, West Coast Berbice Public Road.
The driver of the vehicle, Tarachand Balgobin, Director of Projects at the Ministry of Finance, is on bail pending the outcome of the investigation. After the accident, Balgobin was reportedly hospitalized with minor injuries after which he was discharged.
Commander of Region Five Carol Harding yesterday told Stabroek News that the matter was still being investigated and as a result she was not at “liberty” to give any other information.
However, the deceased’s brother, Emmanuel Ledra, 28, yesterday said that the last information the family received was on August 3. He said, “The last day we went to collect the motorcycle, the police indicated that they will print out the pictures and send the file to DPP.”
According to the brother, the driver of the Finance Ministry vehicle reached out to his family and offered them some money to assist with the funeral services and repairs to the motorcycle, while claiming that he was not in the wrong. However, they have refused this as they wish for the matter to be placed before a court.
Emmanuel, on behalf of his relatives, yesterday stated, “We na really accepting anything let the court take its process, we don’t want anything of that sort, let the matter go to the court and play out there.”
He explained, that while the driver had met with his father at no time did he apologise but rather kept giving different versions of the accident as he stuck to the claim that he was not in the wrong.
The brother then pointed out that his parents are continuing to have sleepless nights and crying every day but that they are hopeful that the matter will be placed before the court sometime soon. He also noted that whatever the outcome of the court case they will accept but “let the court deal with it and decide.”
The brother stressed yesterday, that “There is a witness who indicated that [the driver] hit Nathanael because he [driver] was making a U-turn on a turn and double line.”
Ledra further noted that while relatives of the driver are claiming that his brother “rode into his vehicle, knocking it and turning it around,” they do not believe this as they would have had an opportunity to speak with the eyewitness themselves.
The accident reportedly happened around 3.45 pm on July 19.
Nathanael, a teacher attached to the Black Bush Secondary School and of Mibicuri North, Black Bush Polder, was riding motorcycle CK 370.
The ministry’s vehicle, a motor pick up, PTT 5255, was proceeding west along the Number Three Village Public Road while Ledra was proceeding in the same direction behind the vehicle.
Emmanuel had said that he was the first to arrive at the hospital since he was in the vicinity as Nathanael was on his way to pick him up. The brother, who is also a teacher, rushed to the hospital, where he saw the body of his younger brother. “I never see him in that state, he was already dead,” he had recalled.
An autopsy has since revealed that the young teacher died from multiple injuries consistent with an accident.
