A 57-YEAR-OLD pedal cyclist and father of ten, of Mahaica, East Coast Demerara, was early Thursday morning killed in a horrific accident on the Hand-en-Veldt Public Road as he was making his way to his farm. The farm is some one mile away from his home.Dead is Edmond Smith also called “Bow”, a cash crop farmer of 45 Third Street, Helena Number 2, Mahaica.
Smith was struck down by a speeding 212 Toyota Carina around 05:30 hrs. He was pronounced dead on arrival at the Accident and Emergency Unit of the Georgetown Public Hospital.
Eyewitnesses said he was dragged about 40 feet by the vehicle, which was driving at a ‘terrific speed’. Having suffered injuries to his neck, ankle, among other parts of his body, he died without saying a word, his son-in-law, Everton Wills said.
The badly distraught Wills, who spoke with the Guyana Chronicle, recalled that he, his now dead father-in-law and one of the man’s sons left home shortly after 05:00 hrs and set out on bicycles for the farm.
They were going to water their plants, which they would routinely do – when tragedy struck.
Wills recalled that he and the younger Smith were riding ahead while his father-in-law was about 40 feet behind when suddenly he heard a loud impact, rapidly followed by a second.
On looking around, he saw his father-in-law Edmond Smith lying on the roadway. He also saw the motor car that had hit him.
The two younger men, in deep shock, hastened towards Smith who was unconscious and bleeding from his wounds. Wills said the driver of the motor vehicle picked up the injured man and placed him into his vehicle and hurried down to the GPHC, but he was pronounced dead on arrival.
Meanwhile, there was loud weeping and wailing at Smith’s home as the news of his death was communicated to his wife Angela and other family members.
Smith had been farming at Hand-en-Veldt for several years. It was his means to maintain his family of 12. He would daily ride his pedal cycle to work and was never involved in an accident until Thursday.
Neighbours in the farming community were loud in condemnation of drivers who use that roadway “Like it is a race course.”
An elderly Indian couple, who farm in that vicinity and sell their cash crop at the roadside, was also struck down by a speeding minibus about a year ago.
They suffered serious injuries. Another relative of Smith was also struck down, while a young girl was killed on the spot last year.
Residents are suggesting that the Police Traffic Department set up cameras so as to be able to track such traffic offenders.

By Shirley Thomas