— injured victim not impressed by police action
RELATIVES of the late Prem Sookdeo who was struck down and killed by a drunken driver on the Patentia Public Road on May 6 at about 21:00hrs, while attempting to cross the road on his way home from work, are dissatisfied that the driver has been placed on bail. Yesterday, they said police had told them that the driver (name withheld) made his first court appearance last Wednesday, and was placed on bail and told to return to court, although the man was driving under the influence when he struck down their loved one; and moreover, he did not render any assistance to his victim, preferring to flee the scene of the accident.
The man’s son, Charandeo Sookdeo, told the Guyana Chronicle that he received a telephone call stating that his father had met with an accident and was lying on the roadway. He visited the scene on his motorcycle, and found his father covered in blood, lying on the roadway crying out in pain. He then placed him in a vehicle and took him to the West Demerara Regional Hospital (WDRH).
His dad was later transferred to the Georgetown Public Hospital (GPH), where he succumbed to his injuries at about 03:00hrs the following day.
Charandeo said his 51-year-old father, a former Wales Estate employee who had been living at Lot 30 Patentia, West Bank Demerara, was struck down, along with an 18-year-old pedestrian, on the Patentia Public Road while they were making their respective ways home.

DISAPPOINTED
Meanwhile, the injured Michael Alleyne, 18, of Lot 41 Sisters Village, West Bank Demerara, who was another victim of the drunken driver, yesterday said he was disappointed that although he had gone to the Wales Police Station to make a report, and had given a statement, the police are yet to do something impressive with regard to the situation.
Alleyne said that, on May 6, he was walking home when he was hit, and he suffered injuries to his body; but the driver sped off, and neither contacted nor visited him. And he has been reliably informed that the driver was placed on bail.
At the time of the accident, Alleyne was with a friend, Kevin Garnette, 17, of La Retraite, going home after a game of pools. His friend escaped serious injury, and he and a passerby carried Alleyne to the Wales Police Station before taking him to the West Demerara Regional Hospital, from whence he was referred to the GPHC.
Reports state that the driver of motor car HB 2098 was apparently under the influence of alcohol at the time of the accident. He was apprehended on May 7 about two miles from the scene of the accident.

POLICE STATISTICS
Police have said that, in relation to traffic, there has been an 18% reduction in road fatalities up to the end of April this year, compared with the same period last year. There have been 28 fatalities this year, as against 34 for last year.
The year also continues to see significant reductions in other categories of traffic accidents – serious, minor and damage. So far, drivers of motor vehicles are the main road users affected, with eight such persons having lost their lives on the roads by the end of April last. Seven pedal cyclists and seven pedestrians have also lost their lives as at end of April this year.
Speeding continues to be a major contributory factor to fatalities, causing 17 of the 27 fatal accidents as at the end of April this year.
In addition to traffic education, the Force is continuing enforcement activities along with the use of breathalysers and radar guns; and at the end of April this year, a total of 23,385 cases were made against errant motorists. Of this total, 5,556 cases were for speeding.