GUYANA Defence Force (GDF) Lance Corporal Terrence McAllister, 23, of Lot 76 Princes Street, Lodge, Georgetown, was killed on Sunday night, when the motorcycle he was riding crashed into a concrete culvert.
It was reported that he lost control of his ‘Jialing T110’ while attempting to overtake another motor vehicle along Stanleytown Public Road, West Bank Demerara, at about 18:45 hrs.
He had gone to visit relatives and was returning home.
His brother, Jason McAllister, 21, told the Guyana Chronicle, yesterday, that members of the family received the news, at their house, that his sibling was involved in an accident and that he had died.
The surviving one said the unmarried deceased had indicated he was out visiting relatives before they learnt, through a telephone call from a friend, about the tragedy.
He said he was told his brother rode head-on into a culvert, on the motorcycle he bought about three months ago.
The dead man was employed by the GDF since his attachment as an apprentice at the age of 17 and his passing is a terrible blow to the family of four brothers, two sisters and parents.
At the time of his death, Terrence was residing with Jason and an aunt and was described as a quiet, respectful person who only drank alcohol occasionally and was not troublesome.
Meanwhile, last Friday, about 23:15 hrs, Naomi Nedd, 21, of Yarrowkabra, was killed when the motor car in which she was travelling swerved away from an animal on the road and collided with a tree.
The mishap occurred at Kuru Kuru, also along Soesdyke/Linden Highway, when she and student Shenika Elcock, 13, of Yarrowkabra, too, were passengers in PMM 8869 driven by Naomi’s mother, Carla Nedd.
All three of them suffered injuries and were taken to Diamond Diagnostic Centre, East Bank Demerara, where Naomi was pronounced dead on arrival.
Carla Nedd and Elcock were treated and sent away.
Speaking at a press conference, on Friday, Minister of Home Affairs, Mr. Clement Rohee said the Police Traffic Department indicated that, while the total number of fatal accidents increased from 98 in 2009 to 101, as at December 31, 2010, deaths in the latter year, up to then, were 115 as compared to 117 for the corresponding period in 2009.
He said, while it is acknowledged that any death is of concern to the Ministry, the figures show that the situation was not out of control.
In fact, notwithstanding the increase in the number of vehicles on the roads, the total number of traffic accidents reports in 2010 was 17.4 per cent less than in 2009.
During 2010, 1,704 accidents were recorded, as compared to 2,063 in 2009 and seven children were killed in 2010 and 15 in 2009.