THE Chief Prison Officer, who allegedly struck down a teenager on the Cotton Tree Public Road, West Coast Berbice on Tuesday, remains in police custody as investigations into the fatal accident continue.

Dead is 16-year-old Luke John of Waterloo, Bath Settlement, West Coast Berbice; he was struck down by motor car PMM 3802, driven by the prisoner officer of Charlestown, Georgetown. This newspaper understands that the car was proceeding south along the eastern lane of the Cotton Tree Public Road at a fast rate when the driver attempted to overtake a motor lorry and realised that another vehicle was coming in the opposite direction. To avoid a head-on collision, the driver swerved to the corner of the road where the teen was standing and crashed into him.

Reports indicate that the teen was flung several feet away and was later picked up by public spirited citizens and rushed to the Fort Wellington Public Hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries. The young man received injuries to his head, arms and legs. He was the youngest of three siblings. Guyana Chronicle understands that Director of Prison’s (ag), Gladwin Samuels visited the teen’s family and offered condolences on Wednesday