Coldingen fatal accident: Police still awaiting legal advice on death of pregnant teen

The Guyana Police Force (GPF) is still awaiting legal advice on last month’s accident at Coldingen, East Coast Demerara (ECD), which claimed the life of a pregnant 17-year-old girl, Commander of Regional Division 4C, Senior Superintendent Khali Pareshram confirmed on Sunday.
Bibi Mohammed lost her life in the devasting accident which occurred on February 17. At the time, the teen, who was six months pregnant, and her younger sister were on an electric bike when they were struck by a truck bearing registration number GRR 3130, driven by a 67-year-old of Annandale, ECD.

The electric bike was ridden by the teen’s 16-year-old sister, while the now dead teen was the pillion rider.
The truck driver is on station bail.
Police had stated that the truck was proceeding along the Coldingen Public Road when the driver alleged that as he approached the main road, he stopped and observed the traffic before going onto the main access road. He, however, claimed that when he drove off, he felt his lorry “bump up” and upon checking, he saw the two sisters lying on the road next to an electric bike.
Persons rushed to the scene, and the girls were picked up and escorted to Georgetown Public Hospital where they were examined but Bibi was pronounced dead on arrival. The younger sister had been admitted as a patient while the driver had been taken into Police custody.

Regulations for e-bikes
Traffic Chief Dennis Stephen had told a section of the media that there is no law in place to govern the use of electric bikes since the laws do not include them in the definition of a motorcycle.
He disclosed that the Police are working with agencies, including the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) to implement regulations for the use of these bikes.
Once these regulations are developed, people would require a valid motorcycle licence in order to operate these bikes. In the meantime, Stephen has advised persons below the age of 16 to desist from riding these bikes, especially on main thoroughfares.
“We would have pushed to have those cycles registered immediately. The reason for that is that, over the last year, over seven persons would have lost their lives using this cycle, and 13 persons were injured. The law is clear as it relates to the age range of persons riding motorcycles, and we believe that if persons started to register those cycles, we would be able to ease most of the persons with lack of knowledge on their part…,” he had told this publication.
He nevertheless added that the Police’s Traffic Department has embarked on a campaign to educate persons on the dangers of these bikes on the roadways. The GRA has since clarified that it is not registering or licensing electric bikes (e-bikes).
In a statement, the GRA had said that should these requirements be implemented in the future, it would inform the public.
“…The Guyana Revenue Authority has not commenced the registration of electric bikes, electric cycles and electric golf carts presently seen traversing the roads in Guyana,” the statement added.
According to the GRA, it is pursuing discussions with its sister agencies including the GPF regarding the requirements for importation, registration, licensing, and related liability insurance for electric bikes. (G1)