A 44-year-old cyclist of Logwood Squatting Area, Enmore, East Coast Demerara (ECD) died on Saturday after being struck by a motor pick-up attached to the Ministry of Public Works.
In an interview with Stabroek News yesterday, Anil Ramanand’s reputed wife, Indira Persaud said that her husband left their home on Saturday afternoon to visit his place of work at Boodram Bakery.
“Yesterday afternoon meh husband left around but 4 o clock and seh he going at the wuk place. He seh he boss man call he and tell he go collect some money. He seh he coming back in the next 10 minutes. Oh my God by time the space of ten minutes meh hear meh husband get knock down. When meh go meh husband lay down pon de road ah bleed. Nobody, nobody nah rescue am oh God. How long he lay down pon the road like wan dog, he bin done dead but ah bleed. Police come till like two hour after because place bin start get dark.”
The woman said that she had been living with Ramanand for 12 years and he is the sole bread winner of the household. ‘’We live renting house, renting house now we get hay and now he dead….. gyal meh nah know wah meh go do he alone does wuk in hay”.
According to a police press release, the fatal accident occurred on Saturday at about 4.45 pm on the Foulis Public Road, ECD. The accident involved motor pick-up PXX 8090, a vehicle owned by the Government of Guyana and attached to the Ministry of Public Works. It was being driven by Denzil Mc Bean, 30, of ‘C’ Field, Sophia, Georgetown. The accident also involved motor car PAC 9344 driven by Dorynl Dublin, 24, of Haslington, East Coast Demerara.
The police said that inquiries disclosed that the motor pick-up was proceeding west along the southern side of the Foulis Public Road in a convoy which comprised four vehicles with flashlights and sirens when Ramanand rode across the road from the north to south.
The cyclist came into the path of the pick-up, the third vehicle in the convoy. The right side of PXX 8090 collided with the rear of the pedal cycle, which was then flung onto the northern carriageway into the path of motor car PAC 9344. As a result, the police said that the cyclist fell onto the northern carriageway and was hit by the car.
An Emergency Medical Technician was summoned and Ramanand was examined and pronounced dead by Dr. Etwaroo. The body was escorted to the Georgetown Public Hospital’s Mortuary and is awaiting a post-mortem examination.
Both drivers were contacted at the scene of the accident and breathalyzer tests conducted on them showed 0% blood alcohol content.
Minster of Public Works, Juan Edghill issued a statement on the accident on Saturday night. He said: “This afternoon, there was a fatal accident on the East Coast Demerara, resulting in the death of cyclist Mr. Anil Ramanand. A vehicle belonging to Ministry of Public Works and another vehicle belonging to a private citizen were involved in the accident. The Ministry’s vehicle was at the time carrying staff who were on official duties. Earlier tonight, after learning about the incident, Minister Edghill and team visited the reputed wife, mother, brother, sisters and other relatives of the deceased to extend his sympathies. Edghill pledged his support to the entire family. There is an active police investigation underway and Minister Edghill has assured the family that there will no interference or obstruction of this process”.
