Taxi driver jailed for causing death of vendor in hit-and-run

An Airy Hall, Essequibo Coast taxi driver was on Friday sentenced to two years in jail after he was found guilty of causing the death of a 63-year-old vegetable vendor.

Ganesh Choonilall, 25, had been on trial at the Suddie Magistrate’s Court for three offences: causing death by dangerous driving, failing to stop after an accident, and failing to assist an injured person.
At the end of his trial, Choonilall was found guilty of all three charges. On the causing death by dangerous driving charge, a two-year prison sentence was imposed on him.
For failing to stop after an accident and failing to help an injured person, he was sentenced to pay a fine of $20,000 with an alternative of spending one month in prison on each of the charges.
The jail sentences will run concurrently.
On September 15, motor car PWW 2293, driven by Choonilall, was proceeding along the Adventure Public Road, Essequibo Coast, at a fast rate when it struck down Ameer Ally, called “Greens Boy”, 63, of Lot 30 Adventure Public Road, who was walking on the corner of the road.
As a result of the collision, the elderly man fell on the roadway and sustained injuries to his body. The driver drove away after the accident but was later apprehended by the Police.
As such, the injured man was picked up in an unconscious state by public-spirited persons and rushed to the Suddie Public Hospital, where he was pronounced dead on arrival.