A motorcyclist and his pillion rider lost their lives on Monday evening after a motor car reportedly crashed into them in the vicinity of Long Creek, Linden-Soesdyke Highway.
The dead men have been identified as 22-year-old Shazeer Mohammed of Diamond New Housing Scheme, East Bank Demerara (ECD), and 26-year-old Ryan Boodna of Long Creek Red Road, Linden-Soesdyke Highway.
At the time of the accident, Mohamed was driving a black XR motorcycle while Boodna was the pillion rider. The other vehicle that was involved in the accident bore registration number PAD 283 and was at the time being driven by a 25-year-old resident of West Watooka Wismar, Linden.
Dead: Ryan Boodna
Police stated that both vehicles were travelling in the same direction – the motor car was behind the motorcycle.
However, the driver claimed that the motorcycle, which did not have rear lights, suddenly swerved into his path. In an attempt to avoid a collision, the driver reportedly applied brakes but due to the short distance, he ended up colliding with the rear of the motorcycle.
As a result of the impact, Mohamed and Boodna fell onto the roadway and sustained severe bodily injuries. They were picked up by public-spirited citizens in an unconscious state and taken to the Linden Hospital Complex where they were examined and pronounced dead.
Police stated that a breathalyser test was administered on the driver of the motor car but there were no traces of alcohol in his system. He is currently in custody, assisting with the ongoing investigation.
Meanwhile, Guyana Times understands that Boodna lost both of his parents and was brought up by an aunt, Rita, who explained that on the night in question, she received a telephone call from a young man who informed her that her nephew was involved in an accident.
She stated that one of her sons immediately rushed to the scene to investigate and within minutes he called her with the dreaded news.
“He mother dead since he was 9-day-old so meh mother and we take care of he and another older brother…after meh mother dead, he stay with me all the time…right now he is like one of meh own son… and it hurt meh heart to know that he die in so horrible manner…”
The distraught woman recalled last seeing him alive on Monday morning when she left home to travel to Soesdyke to run some errands. “He does work with the other boy (Mohammed) at them sawmill but he does come home every day… but Monday afternoon like them de going to buy food at a small shop up the hill and as soon as them ride out the sawmill road and start riding up the hill, the car hit them down…”
The aunt explained that after her son called to confirm the young man was dead, she rushed to the scene where she saw him lying on the road in a pool of blood.
“Like the vehicle knock them and push them some distance way…he head burst up… and he hand and foot bruk up…when I look at he, I know he dead… the Police come, pick up the other boy and rush he to the hospital… them left meh nephew on the road and it was some other people who pick he up and carry he to the hospital too… he went on the road fuh about one hour,” the woman told Guyana Times.
She further explained that after the post-mortem today, Mohamed will be buried after which she will make funeral arrangements for her nephew to be buried next to his mother and grandmother at the Long Creek cemetery.
Rita is calling on the Police to conduct a thorough investigation into the accident since she believes that the driver did not tell the Police the truth. Boodna was described as a very friendly and humble person with a pleasant personality.
