A FORMER schoolteacher was killed on Saturday night in an accident on the Goed Fortuin Public Road, West Bank Demerara (WBD).Reports are that 58-year-old Albert Rometh Shivdayal of Goed Fortuin was crossing the road on his bicycle a short distance from his home when he was struck down by a motorcar. The accident reportedly occurred at about 21:50hrs on Saturday.

A post-mortem done yesterday at the Ezekiel Funeral Home at Best, West Coast Demerara (WCD) revealed that Shivdayal died of multiple injuries.

According to a police report, the motorcar (PNN 7289) involved in the accident “was proceeding north along the western driveway at a fast rate, while the cyclist was proceeding in the said direction, but on the eastern side of the road.” It says that the deceased was crossing the road “from east to west [when he rode] into the path of the car and was struck down.”
He was subsequently taken by ranks of a police patrol to the West Demerara Regional Hospital at Best, where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

The police said, too, that while a breathalyser test conducted on the driver of the vehicle has found no trace of blood alcohol, “a breaking distance of 126 feet from the point of impact was documented by the investigator.”

A relative of this driver is, however, disputing this assertion, saying that Shivdayal was dragged 188 feet from the point of impact, while his bicycle was flung 30 feet away.

Shivdayal, who has been described by other relatives as a jack-of-all-trades, also worked on occasion in the construction and veterinary fields.
According to his sister, Gloria, “He was a very kindhearted man, and always helped people. Anyone could have gotten him to help them. He was popular in his neighbourhood.”

At the time of his demise, she said, he was living by himself.