Berbice motorcyclist, pillion rider die after crashing into car

…Driver arrested; alcohol found in system

A motorcyclist and his pillion rider are now dead after crashing into a motorcar on at Hermitage Village, East Coast Berbice (ECB), Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne), in the wee hours of Sunday morning.

Dead are Kris Ramphal, aged 29, a packaging plant worker of Chesney New Housing Scheme, Corentyne, and Malcolm Pirtan called “Malie”, 18, a painter of Fyrish Village, Corentyne. Police say the crash occurred at about 01:40h on Sunday. At the time, Ramphal was driving motorcycle CP 8880 with Pirtan as the pillion rider heading west allegedly at a fast rate, with both the motorcyclist and pillion rider not wearing safety helmets. The motorcar, HC 4710, which was heading in the opposite direction, was at the time being driven by a 48-year-old man from Lancaster Village, Corentyne.
According to the police, the driver of the car alleged that the motorcycle was without a headlight and was proceeding in his lane, approaching from the opposite direction. Upon seeing this, the driver said he tried to swerve right to avoid a collision, but despite his effort, the motorcycle collided with the left front portion of his car on the northern drive lane. Both Ramphal and Pirtan fell onto the road, where they received injuries. They were picked up by public-spirited citizens in unconscious conditions and were taken to the New Amsterdam Public Hospital, where they were both pronounced dead on arrival. Meanwhile, the motorcar driver was contacted at the scene. He was later arrested and taken to the Central Police Station. A breathalyser test was conducted, which revealed he had 4 and 5 micrograms of alcohol.
He remains in custody, assisting with the investigations.
Ramphal’s mother, 46-year-old Kamlawattie Mohan, said her son left home for work on Saturday evening but stopped at her home in Fyrish and began imbibing with other relatives and his good friend Pirtan.
“He was there in front, waiting for me to sit down and take another drink. So, after I told him, I want him to go to work… he left and said that he was going to Number 1 and coming back. But I did not know that he left and went to Number 19 Village.”
Mohan said it was her daughter-in-law who told her that her son was involved in an accident. She said she was told that her daughter-in-law was calling her son’s phone, and a woman answered it and informed her of the crash. “So I called his phone and the lady told me that my son ride into their car and now he lying on the road. I asked her what happened to him and she said how he dead already.” The woman, who is now experiencing the death of a second of her six children, said on Saturday evening during her last moments with Ramphal, he was showing her video clips from his phone of himself working at the Albion Estate Sugar Packaging Plant.
Meanwhile, Pirtan’s brother, Edmond Franson, said his younger brother was hanging out with his best friend but said Pirtan does not consume alcohol.
Police are continuing their investigations.