A fifty-five year old pedal cyclist met an unfortunate demise after he was struck down by a speeding car on the Princetown Public Road, East Berbice Corentyne on Wednesday morning.

The man, who was identified as Marsha Adiana called “Dutchie”, was riding his bicycle looking for work, when he was struck down by a white Toyota Sienta hire car bearing registration number HC 8511.The car was driven by a 25-year-old male of Crabwood Creek.

According to reports, the car and the pedal cyclist were opposing each other when the driver of the hire car lost control of the vehicle and turned into the path of Adiana and struck him off his cycle.

Eyewitnesses told the Guyana Chronicle the hire car driver was proceeding at a fast rate of speed when he attempted to overtake another vehicle.He also attempted to avoid hitting a motorcyclist who was heading towards him.In the process, he collided with Adiana.

The impact flung the man several feet in the air before he landed on the roadway. His mangled bicycle was hurled several feet  at the corner of the parapet  while  the car plunged into the roadside trench.

Adiana, who was bleeding profusely from his ears and mouth,was picked-up in an unconscious state and taken to the nearby Skeldon Hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

The driver of the of the car was arrested and tested for alcohol. He was found to be below the legal limit and is presently in custody assisting with investigations.

A shocked Ramona Adiana,daughter of Marsha, explained that her father who works as a labourer, was on his way to look for work as he does daily on his bicycle.

He earned the nickname of ‘Dutchie’ since he is a Surinamese by birth.The man usually does odd jobs around the community and is known as a very hard working individual.