–Driver in custody, expresses remorse

JUDE Joseph, 28, of Public Road Patentia, West Bank Demerara, was struck down and killed by a speeding motorcar a short distance from his home yesterday morning as he was on his way to purchase eggs and bread for his family.

The man’s wife, Natasha Vandeyar, told this publication that she was at home when her husband left walking to make a purchase of eggs and bread for their breakfast and within a few minutes she heard a loud impact and looked through the window and saw a man being pitched into the air.

At the time, she said, she did not know it was her husband but subsequently she saw the bloodied and lifeless body of the father-of-two lying on the roadway.

The grieving woman added that from the report of eyewitnesses, she learnt that Joseph, a miner, was walking at the side of the road when a speeding and out-of-control blue Toyota Spacio struck him from behind, pitching him into the air and when he landed he was bleeding through his ears, mouth and nose.

He was barely alive, and was rushed to the West Demerara Regional Hospital (WDRH) where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

The accident took place on the Patentia Public Road in the vicinity of the Patentia Primary School at about 09:30 hours.

Vandeyar stated that when she showed up at the scene and recognised that the accident victim was her husband she panicked and ran up the road towards her house to inform the others after the driver of the vehicle began crying and screaming, saying he was sorry.

The miner is survived by his wife, two daughters aged three and five-years-old and scores of relatives, including his father, who were shell-shocked yesterday following the accident.

The driver of the car is in police custody assisting with investigations at Wales Police Station.

(By Michel Outridge)