A 78-year-old Georgetown pensioner died after being struck down by a motor car on the Leonora, West Demerara Public Road on Saturday night and police have since taken the 17-year-old driver into custody.
The deceased has been identified as Bernard Marshall of Norton Street, Georgetown.
Police said in a statement yesterday that the car PTT 5545 was travelling east on the northern side of the road when Marshall walked out into its path.
At the time, police said, it was raining and the teenage driver was traversing at a normal rate of speed. The driver told investigators that when he saw the pedestrian, he swerved to avoid him but his effort was in vain. The right-side front fender collided with Marshall and he fell to the ground suffering a laceration to his left elbow.
Public-spirited citizens rushed to the scene and rendered assistance to the pensioner who remained conscious. He was taken to the Leonora Cottage Hospital, where he was examined by a doctor and transferred to the West Demerara Regional Hospital for further medical attention. Police said he was further treated but later died at the hospital.
The pensioner’s body is currently at the Ezekiel Funeral Home awaiting an autopsy.
Meanwhile, a breathalyser test conducted on the driver proved he had no trace of alcohol in his system.
