A DRIVER whom eyewitnesses said was either drunk or fell asleep at the wheel on New Year’s morning struck down and killed an elderly man and injured another, who is in a critical condition at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC).
The driver was subsequently arrested after fleeing the scene of the accident.
Dead is George Barker, 61, of Lot 41 Freeman Street, East La Penitence, Georgetown.
At the time he had gone to purchase the daily newspapers as was his wont, when he was killed by the speeding, out-of-control car. The car subsequently ended up in a trench nose first, after hitting two persons including Barker, and shifted a fruit stall by the roadside just outside the St. Pius Church.
He lived alone and every morning before 06:00 hrs, he would reportedly make his way out to the fruit stall to buy newspapers.
Injured is Brian Devine, 64, also of La Penitence. He is said to be in a critical condition at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) up to press time nursing broken limbs, a damaged spine, head and neck injuries.
Devine is in an unresponsive condition relatives said yesterday and is bleeding through his eyes also.
He and Barker are friends and every morning the duo would meet at the same fruit stall which also sells newspapers and on New Year’s morning it was no different.
Devine underwent a surgical operation a month ago and was said to be recovering.
An eyewitness, Kurt Mendonca, told this publication that he was at his place of business across the road when he observed a speeding car, PNN 7977, an AT 192, hit a road hump then toppled and struck down two men and a woman who were by the fruit stall.
Mendonca stated that one of the two men was pinned under the car, while the other was pitched into the trench and he along with a few others assisted the elderly men and put them in vehicles to be taken to the hospital.
He added that the driver abandoned the vehicle and fled the scene.
The young woman had been tending to customers, for the owner, Ingrid Delph, 53, who went to the market.
She, however, escaped with a few cuts and bruises about the body.
Delph told this newspaper yesterday that were she present on that morning, she would have been dead and is very grateful for her spared life. She however lamented the death of her customer, George Barker.
Delph said, “It could have been me.”
(By Michel Outridge)
