THIRTY-THREE-YEAR-OLD Martin Samuels of Festival City, North Ruimveldt, lost his life on September 1, 2023, after a hire car collided with the motorcycle he was riding.

The collision occurred around 07:15 hrs at the intersection of Mandela Avenue and Cemetery Road in Georgetown, and led to the arrest of the car’s driver, Lloyd McKenzie of Belfield, 52, East Coast Demerara (ECD). He was subsequently charged with causing death by dangerous driving.

Following the accident, McKenzie was taken into custody to assist in the investigation. He was later charged and released on $300,000 bail pending the hearing and determination of the trial.

However, the case took an unexpected turn last Friday when the mother of Samuels’ children testified at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court. She said that a compensation agreement had been reached with McKenzie’s legal team and the deceased man’s family.

Although the exact amount of compensation was not disclosed during the court proceedings, the grieving woman confirmed that McKenzie had paid the entire sum. So, based on her testimony, acting Chief Magistrate, Sherdel Isaacs-Marcus, dismissed the charge against McKenzie.

According to initial police reports, the collision occurred as McKenzie’s hire car, bearing license plate #HD 3165, attempted a right turn onto the southern carriageway from the extreme southern drive lane of the northern carriageway. Meanwhile, Samuels, riding motorcycle #CL 8097, was travelling west along the southern drive lane of Mandela Avenue.

Investigations revealed that the traffic light at the intersection was red in McKenzie’s direction, indicating a stop in traffic flow. However, McKenzie allegedly failed to adhere to the signal, resulting in the fatal collision with Samuels’ motorcycle.
The impact of the collision threw Samuels into the air, and despite receiving prompt medical attention, he was pronounced dead upon arrival at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation.