DEAD: Douglas Forrester

DOUGLAS Forrester, of Lot 35 Agricola Public Road, Greater Georgetown, is the latest road fatality.

He died instantly when a speeding taxi hit him on its way to Timehri, East Bank Demerara, on Sunday night, his relatives said.

They said they were at home watching television when they received the dreadful news and ventured out on the roadway where his broken body lay.

It was about 23:30 h when the 51-year-old left a wake in the same ward and was standing on the median when he was killed, they claimed.

According to them, Forrester was going across the road to make a purchase from a nearby shop and the driver of HB 3721 was speaking on his cellular phone when he lost control of the vehicle at the junction of Brutus Street and Agricola Public Road.

Police took the man at the wheel into custody for the continuing investigations.

The death of the father of seven prompted called from family members for stiffer penalties on defaulters and the installation of traffic lights at the location where Forrester met his demise and many other accidents had previously occurred.

Skid marks were still evident on the thoroughfare yesterday when the Guyana Chronicle went there but Forrester’s wife and children were too distraught to speak.

Meanwhile, Police Traffic Department revealed that, so far this year, 73 persons were killed in 63 fatal accidents and the victims include nine children.

For the corresponding period in 2008, 65 accidents claimed 76 lives, including those of three children.