CYCLIST  Prem Sookdeo was fatally struck down on the Patentia Public Road, West Bank Demerara, by a motor car,of  which the driver seemed to have lost control  and sped off while on his way home from work on Sunday night. The man’s son, Charandeo Sookdeo from their Lot 30 Patentia, West Bank Demerara home yesterday told the Guyana Chronicle that he received a telephone call stating that his father had met with an accident and he was lying on the roadway.
Charandeo said that he left home on his motor cycle and when he reached the scene his father was covered in blood on the roadway crying out in pain.  He then placed him in a vehicle and took him to the West Demerara Regional Hospital (WDRH).
The younger Sookdeo noted that his dad was later transferred to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) where he succumbed to his injuries at about 03:00hrs on Monday morning.
He said that the 51-year-old former Wales Estate employee was struck down along with an 18-year-old pedestrian while they were both on the Patentia Public Road, on their way home.
Meanwhile, injured Michael Alleyne, 18, of Lot 41 Sisters Village, also on the West Bank Demerara, said that he was walking along the Patentia Public Road along with a friend, Kevin Garnette, 17, of La Retraite, after a game of pools when suddenly he was struck down by what appeared to be a car which drove away without rendering assistance.
Alleyne stated that he was assisted by his friend, who escaped without serious injuries and a passerby who transported him firstly to the Wales Police Station then to the WDRH where he was referred to the GPHC.
At GPHC Alleyne noted that he was treated and discharged and told to return on Monday when he would undergo a surgical operation to repair a broken ankle.
Alleyne was yesterday lying in a hammock under his house in obvious pain with  parts of his body bandaged.
Reports stated that the driver of the car, HB 2098 was apparently under the influence of alcohol and was apprehended about two miles  from the scene of the accident on Sunday night, which took place at about 09:00 hours.
However, police yesterday said that in relation to traffic, there has been an 18% reduction in road fatalities up to the end of April this year in comparison to the same period last year, with 28 fatalities this year and 34 last year.
The year also continues to see significant reductions in relation to the other categories of traffic accidents – serious, minor and damage.
So far, drivers of motor vehicles are the main road users affected with eight such persons having lost their lives on the roads by the end of April this year. Seven pedal cyclists and seven pedestrians have also lost their lives onto April this year.
The police reported that speeding continues to be a major contributing factor to fatal accidents, causing 17 of the 27 fatal accidents at the end of April this year.
In addition to traffic education, the Force is continuing its enforcement activities along with the use of breathalysers and radar guns, and at the end of April this year a total of 23,385 cases were made against errant motorists. Of this total 5,556 cases were for speeding.