— driver in hit-and-run apprehended in high-speed chase

A high-speed car chase Tuesday morning led by an off-duty police officer and public-spirited citizens resulted in the detention of a driver involved in a hit-and-run accident which left a father of two dead.

The dead man has been identified as Stanley Broone called “Kishan”, 33, of Number 11 Village, East Coast Berbice. He was at the time waiting to cross the road when he was struck down by a Toyota Allion bearing registration number PTT 8022. The accident occurred at around 10:45 hrs.

According to police, the motor car PTT 8022 was proceeding west along the southern carriageway when the pedestrian reportedly emerged from behind a parked lorry on the northern side.

The pedestrian was crossing the road from north to south. The driver stated that he swerved south to avoid a collision and, in doing so, the right front of the vehicle collided with the pedestrian on the southern side of the road.

As a result of the impact, the pedestrian fell onto the front windscreen and then onto the road.

Meanwhile, contrary to a police report, an eyewitness who requested anonymity told Guyana Chronicle that Broone was on the southern side of the road waiting to cross over to the northern side where he lives when he was struck down.

The eyewitness further stated that no vehicle was parked on that side of the road at the time of the accident.

LOUD IMPACT

Another eyewitness, Quacy Paul related that he was sitting under a house with some friends when he heard a loud impact and saw a car dragging something for almost 200 feet.

He said the vehicle continued driving and he heard shouts from the shop that his friend Stanley, who left moments ago to purchase something for them, was struck down.

“After me hear the knock I watch up and see the car dragging something, same time them man from the other over start holler that Stanley get knock down. So me rush out and after me realise the car man just slow down and start speed off again, I flag down a car and tell the driver to drive after the car,” Paul related.

It so happened that the car that he stopped was driven by an off-duty police officer who made contact with the road block at the Berbice Bridge to be on alert for the car but when they swung the Palmyra turn, the car had passed the bridge entrance and headed towards New Amsterdam.

BLOCKED

Paul continued that as they reached Number Two Village, East Canje, several miles away, a red fielder wagon overtook the car being chased and stopped in front of it, blocking it from moving forward.

The police then drove up from behind; blocking the rear and the driver was apprehended after traffic ranks arrived shortly.

At the scene, the injured Broone, a father of a seven-month-old infant and a year-and-a-half-old toddler was picked up in bloodied state and rushed to the New Amsterdam hospital where he succumbed to his injuries.

He had left home to purchase an item from a shop on the other side of the road and was planning to have a holiday drink with his friends before they returned to work tomorrow.

Broone was a fisherman by trade and was not home often except on holidays.

When Guyana chronicle arrived on the scene, the village was in an uproar.

Moments before the police left with the driver who was taken back to the scene, he claimed he was forced to drive away because he was chased by cutlass-wielding residents.

“We want justice for my son, he has two little babies left and now the driver like he got some connections because he show up with the police without handcuffs and said ‘them boys chase he with cutlass’. Is Lie! Bare lies! He nah stop, he just hit down me son and drive away, he nah even stop to see what he hit if is a dog, cat or wah and he drive away was bare speed!” Tejkumarie Broone, the mother of the victim told this publication.

Police markings on the road indicated that the victim was stuck at the corner of the road and residents and friends maintained that he was not drunk at the time.

Broone leaves to mourn his 24-year-old wife, two children, parents and two younger siblings. The driver of the vehicle who hails from Block X Diamond, Housing Scheme, East Bank Demerara, remains in police custody.

A breathalyser test conducted on him gave a negative reading.