“Sleeping” driver gets $200,000 bail for causing death of Zeeburg fish vendor

A father of one of Zeeburg New Housing Scheme, West Coast Demerara (WCD), was on Monday released on $200,000 bail on a charge of causing death by dangerous driving.

Feroz Mohamed, who, according to his lawyer, Bernard Da Silva, is employed as a contractor with the Guyana Defence Force (GDF), had told Police he fell asleep behind the wheel of the car he was driving when the accident occurred.
Mohamed, 44, pleaded not guilty to the charge which alleged that on September 19, 2020, at Zeeburg Public Road, WCD, he drove a motor car in a manner dangerous to the public thereby causing the death of 39-year-old fish vendor Somattie Persaud. He appeared before Magistrate Zamilla Ally-Seepaul at the Leonora Magistrate’s Court.
He will make his next court appearance on November 5, 2020.
It was reported that the woman, who resides at Lot 75 Mandal Street Zeeburg, WCD, was at the time riding a pedal cyclist and was struck down by a hire car driven by Mohamed.
Reports are that the woman was cycling along the Zeeburg Public Road as the motor car was proceeding in the same direction behind her. Mohamed told Police that he fell asleep but was awakened after he felt an impact.
The driver told Police as he exited his vehicle, he observed that he was stationary at a concrete fence on the southern side of the road, and a female with a pedal cycle was seen lying on the southern grass parapet motionlessly, with injuries about her body.
The woman was picked up by the driver, along with public-spirited citizens, and taken to the Leonora Cottage Hospital where she succumbed whilst receiving treatment. A breathalyser test was conducted on him but no trace of alcohol was found in his breath.