The driver of the vehicle which fatally struck two persons along the Number 70 Public Road on Friday evening was yesterday remanded to prison after he was charged with causing death by dangerous driving, failure to report the accident, and failure to render assistance.
Vivendra Ramdharry, 37, of Lot 178 Number 69 Village, Corentyne, appeared at the Springlands Magistrate’s Court before Magistrate Alex Moore who appeared virtually.
Ramdharry was charged with two counts of causing death by dangerous driving, two counts of failure to render assistance, and one count of failure to report an accident.
He is accused of driving a Suzuki Escudo jeep bearing licence plate PVV 1015, on March 18, when he allegedly struck Tony Lakeram, 20, a carpenter of Number 71 Village, Corentyne, and a female companion, Felicia Fernandes, 28, of Lot 14 Coverden, East Bank Demerara around 23:20 hrs.
Ramdharry, who was represented by attorney at law, Bernard Da Silva, was not required to plead to the two counts of causing death by dangerous driving but pleaded not guilty to the charges of failure to render assistance and failure to report the accident.
Police Prosecutor, Winston Poliah argued that bail should be refused since Ramdharry did not turn himself over to the police but rather travelled to Georgetown where he was arrested by ranks acting on information received.
He further said that if the accused had rendered
assistance there was a possibility that the victims could have received medical aid in time to save their lives.
However, the accused’s attorney said that Ramdharry ventured to Georgetown to meet with him, while another relative reported the matter. He also said that the relatives of the deceased are in contact with Ramdharry’s relatives and they are working out compensation.
Both of the deceased’s relatives were present in court and supported the application for bail, stating that the relatives of the accused had reached out to them in a “nice” manner.
However, Magistrate Moore denied bail and remanded the accused to prison.
He will return to court on April 14 for report.
Ramdharry had left the scene and was arrested in Georgetown the following day after police found his damaged vehicle at his Number 69 Village, Corentyne house.
The police had said the driver was proceeding north along the western drive lane of the road at a fast rate when he collided with the two pedestrians, after which the vehicle sped away.
The victims were later picked up by public-spirited citizens and taken to the Skeldon Public Hospital where they were both pronounced dead on arrival.
Several videos were posted on social media on Friday night by residents at the scene and some claimed that Lakeram was still conscious. In one video, several residents could be heard saying that he was still alive while they waited for transportation to take the couple to the hospital.
Lakeram’s aunt, Monica Narine, 47, explained that she received news of the accident just around 10 pm and rushed out to the location. However, her nephew and the woman had already been transported to the hospital.
Meanwhile, a post-mortem examination ruled that Lakeram died as a result of shock with cerebral hemorrhage and fracture of the leg due to a motor vehicle accident, while Fernandes’s cause of death was given as multiple injuries.
