A 51-year-old pedestrian is now battling for his life after he was struck down by a jeep on Monday at Turkeyen, Rupert Craig Highway.
Injured is businessman Allan Downes, of Oleander Gardens, East Coast Demerara.
According to a police report, the incident occurred at about 05:30 hours on the northern carriageway of the Rupert Craig Highway at Turkeyen involving motor jeep # PAC 5314 owned by Jaiwantee Edwin of Good Hope Housing Scheme, ECD and driven by 40-year-old Budhram Heeralall.
The police report stated that Heeralall was proceeding east along on the northern lane of the Rupert Craig Highway at Turkeyen when he claimed that Downes ran across from the southern lane to the northern lane and into his path. Heeralall said he swerved to avoid a collision but despite his effort, the front part of the vehicle collided with Downes who sustained injuries about his body. Downes was picked up in a semi-conscious state and taken to the Georgetown Public Hospital where he was admitted in the Intensive Care Unit in a critical condition.
Heeralall, the driver of the vehicle said that he panicked and drove away from the scene. Police Corporal Persaud, acting on information received, visited the home of the owner of the vehicle at about 10:00 hours where the driver was located, arrested and escorted to Turkeyen Police station.
Meanwhile Downes’ wife, Marysia Bento Downes, in a Facebook post, said that her husband’s daily exercise routine for the past 20 years begins from Oleander Gardens to Conversation Tree Road and back. Marysia explained that her husband is aware of reckless drivers on the roadways and would never walk in the path of a speeding vehicle.
She added that some of the injuries Downes sustained included to his feet where he is experiencing severe bleeding behind both knees. She further explained that the shattered front number plate of the jeep gives an indication of where he was struck. She added, “A photograph taken shortly after the accident shows Allan in the corner of the road, left for dead.”
A breathalyzer test conducted on the driver revealed no trace of alcohol. The police’s ongoing investigation will include review of available CCTV footage.
