A 33-year-old taxi driver lost his life Tuesday night after the vehicle he was driving crashed along the Cullen Public Road, in what police believe was a high-speed accident.
Dead is Floyd Ricardo Mal of Lot 79 Huis’t Dieren, Essequibo Coast. The fatal crash occurred at approximately 21:30 hours on April 28 along a section of the roadway known for a right-hand bend.
According to initial reports, motor car HD 8678, owned by Yonette Sargeant of Lot 21 Pomona, was proceeding south along the eastern lane at the time of the incident. Road conditions were described as favourable, with functioning streetlights providing adequate visibility.
Investigators, however, indicated that the vehicle was travelling at a fast rate of speed when the driver reportedly lost control while negotiating the bend. The car veered off the roadway, crashing into a lamp post, then a signboard, before colliding with a tree and coming to a stop.
Residents of Cullen were among the first to respond, pulling Mal from the wreckage. He was found unconscious and rushed to the Suddie Public Hospital, where he later succumbed to his injuries. He was pronounced dead at approximately 22:35 hours while receiving medical treatment.
Police ranks arrived at the scene shortly after the crash and have since launched an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident. Mal’s body was later identified by his wife, Sherika Mal, and has been transferred to the Suddie Public Hospital Mortuary, where it is awaiting a post-mortem examination.
The severely damaged vehicle remains at the scene pending inspection by a licensing and certifying officer.
The tragedy has left the Cullen community shaken and has renewed concerns about speeding, particularly along curved sections of roadways. Authorities say investigations are ongoing.