Pedal cyclist struck by intoxicated GDF rank succumbs

Fifty-seven-year-old pedal cyclist Ramlackhan, who was struck down by an intoxicated corporal attached to the Guyana Defence Force (GDF), succumbed to his injuries on Wednesday last at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC).
His death occurred less than two weeks after he underwent emergency surgery while in an unconscious state at that hospital.
Meanwhile, the military rank is yet to be charged since the file that had been sent to the office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) to have a driving under the influence charge laid has not been returned to the police to date.
Commander of C Division, Calvin Brutus had recently explained to this publication that since Ramlackhan had been involved in the accident, he never regained consciousness.
Therefore, while he was in an unconscious state, the only charge that could be laid against the army corporal was that of DUI.
“Dangerous driving is subject to the individual. So, we have already started the preliminary work in relation to the advice for the Driving Under the Influence (DUI). But not the accident in general…given the present state of the victim.”
However, according to the police on Friday, now that Ramlackhan has succumbed to his injuries, investigations into the situation will take a different route since the military official can be charged with causing death by dangerous driving.
“The army rank is presently on station bail but has to return to the police station on Monday [June 24, 2019]. The file for the DUI is yet to be returned to us [police] for further action. In relation to the pedal cyclist losing his life, further investigation has to be done since the victim died,” the police explained.
On May 25 last, Ramlackhan was struck down while on the Vryheid’s Lust Railway Embankment Road, East Coast Demerara (ECD), by motorcar PRR 7815, which was allegedly being driven by the soldier. The severely injured man is said to hail from Lot 346 Martyrs Ville, Mon Repos, ECD.
At the time of the accident, Ramlackhan was towing another friend who is reportedly from Sixth Street, Success, ECD. His friend suffered minor injuries.
Reports are that on the day in question, the duo was riding along the roadway when they were hit off the bicycle by the vehicle being driven by the GDF rank, who was reportedly under the influence of alcohol.
Ramlackhan was picked up and taken to the GPHC, where he was admitted a patient.
A breathalyser test was conducted on the driver of the vehicle, and it was discovered that his alcohol intake was above the legal limit. Investigations into the matter continue.
However, Commander Brutus had earlier this month explained that the soldier who was allegedly driving the car involved in the accident was released into the custody of the Army.
“The Joint Services Protocol dictates that we hand him over to his superiors pending the advice of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP). With regards to Police having custody of Joint Services ranks, it is dependent on the category of crime. For instance, if it is murder or so, they will stay in our [GPF] custody. If it is a lesser category, we hand them over to their respective agency and they will take responsibility to bring them back whenever is needed; or if advice is to charge, they will make them available and bring them so.”