A Corentyne woman who was driving the motorcar which was involved in a fatal collision last Friday was yesterday placed on a total of $520,000 bail after she was charged with causing death by dangerous driving and driving under the influence of alcohol.
As mourners gathered at the house of Rajendra Khadaroo, also known as ‘Andy’, 41, located opposite the Albion Police Station and Albion Magistrate’s Court to bid him farewell at his funeral yesterday, Khamwattie Mangar Karpen appeared at the Court where the charges were read to her.
Karpen, of Lot 52 Williamsburg, Corentyne, appeared before Magistrate Rabindranauth Singh, where she was read the charge that on Friday, 6th of May on the Nigg Public Road she drove motor car, HB 9593, in a manner dangerous to the public thereby causing the death of Khadaroo.
The 35-year-old woman was also read the charge that on Friday, 6th of May on the Nigg Public Road she drove motor car, HB 9593 while the alcohol level on her breath exceeded the prescribed limit of 35 micrograms and was actually 94 micrograms.
Karpen was not required to enter a plea on the causing of death charge and pleaded not guilty to the charge of driving under the influence.
She was placed on $500,000 bail on the causing of death charge and $20,000 bail on the charge of driving under the influence a total bail of $520,000.
The matter will come up on May 25 at the Georgetown Magistrate’s Court for reassignment.
Following the accident, the Guyana Police Force had reported that enquiries revealed that the woman was proceeding east along Nigg Public Road at a normal rate of speed and while trying to negotiate a turn on the road, the motor car ended up in the path of the motorcyclist who was proceeding along the same road at an alleged fast rate resulting in a collision. The man was not wearing a safety helmet at the time.
Persons at the location had told Stabroek News that the woman made a sudden attempt to swerve into a street without putting on her indicator. “We see like she did coming on the road and then she just go to turn into the street and the boy did coming same time… She na put on she blinker or nothing, like she did hurry and she come in the boy lane and them knock up”, an elderly resident had said.
The collision pitched Khadaroo from the motorcycle onto the front windscreen of the car. He then fell on the road.
Persons in the area who witnessed the accident had said that the man remained on the ground for about forty minutes before he was eventually rushed to the Port Mourant Public Hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival.
A post mortem examination done at the Port Mourant Hospital later revealed that he died due to multiple injuries sustained.
Khadaroo leaves his wife, daughter and other relatives and friends to mourn. He was described as a kind and hardworking man who had a great love for motorcycles.
The man was returning home from the Rose Hall Town masjid after finishing morning prayers as he would normally do every day. Relatives had further pointed out that the man was also observing an Islamic (Shawwal) fast at the time of his death.
Bikers, relatives and friends on Sunday evening gathered along the Corentyne highway where they paid tribute to the man describing him as a father, brother and friend to many of them. He was laid to rest yesterday.
