No charges for driver in Patentia accident – Police

…as victim stabilises

Even as Police and some eyewitness accounts differed on a recent accident at Patentia Public Road, West Bank Demerara (WBD), it was on Wednesday confirmed that the taxi driver involved, 59-year-old Cyril Joseph, will not be charged.

This was disclosed by acting Guyana Police Force (GPF) Public Relations Officer, Shivpersaud Bacchus, who noted that based on statements provided and the report of investigators on site, the motorcyclist, John Walcott, 18, was at fault.
Multiple eyewitnesses said that the teenager was speeding at the time and persons familiar with the young man claimed that he was in the habit of speeding and not wearing his helmet.
According to information received, the teenager was not wearing a helmet at the time of Tuesday’s accident. Guyana Times was told that he remained a patient at the Georgetown Public Hospital. On Wednesday, his condition was listed as stable, and it was also confirmed that he suffered broken bones, bruises and other injuries about the body.
Despite the claims of Walcott speeding, the decision to not pursue charges against Joseph follows the revelation that the HC 7212 motor car was moved by several men on the scene without Police markings. Moments after the accident, the car was initially seen on the eastern side of the public road some feet away from solid double yellow lines. However, the civilian team of men repositioned the car to the road corner less than one hour after the accident occurred. The second position was consistent with the Police’s account of the driver swerving into that area to avoid the collision, but to no avail.
According to the account provided by ranks attached to Wales Police Station, Joseph was proceeding north along the western side of the road while the teenager, proceeding in the opposition direction, on the eastern side “swerved” in a zigzag manner into the car’s path. Police further noted that the car driver then swerved to the eastern side to avoid the motorcycle, after which the cyclist supposedly swerved back to the eastern side and collided with the left side of the car.
However, this publication was told that Joseph was reportedly heading toward Vreed-en-Hoop when he attempted to overtake another vehicle. Information from eyewitnesses stated that it was then that Walcott’s CJ 668 motorcycle came head on into Joseph’s Toyota car. Walcott was thrown into the air and landed some 30 feet away where blood was seen on the roadway. The teen was bleeding profusely and was picked up by the driver of a Toyota Tundra, who assisted in transporting him to hospital.