Vlissengen-Sandy Babb Street accident: EBD resident gets bail for DUI, driving unlicensed vehicle

…expected to be charged today for causing death by dangerous driving

Thirty-seven-year-old Roberto Narine of Peter’s Hall, East Bank Demerara (EBD), who allegedly caused the death of Ian Mekdeci and left another person critically injured, was on Tuesday slapped with two charges in relation to the fatal accident.

Narine has been charged for driving under the influence of alcohol, and for driving an unlicensed vehicle. Before Georgetown Magistrate Clive Nurse, he pleaded not guilty to the first charge, but guilty to the second charge. As such, he has reportedly been placed on $20,000 bail for driving under the influence, and fined $20,000 for driving an unlicensed vehicle.

Narine, however, remains in custody, and is expected to be charged today (Wednesday) with causing death by dangerous driving.
Mekdeci, a former national squash player, died in the wee hours of Saturday following a two-vehicle collision. His friend, 31-year-old Sheik Baksh of Dowding Street, Kitty, remains in critical condition at the Georgetown Public Hospital.
The accident occurred at the intersection of Sandy Babb Street and Vlissengen Road, in the vicinity of Camp Ayanganna. Police have said that the accident occurred at about 02:15h, and involved motor car PXX 4592, driven by Baksh, and motor jeep PTT 4136, driven by Roberto Narine, a 37-year-old male of School Street, Peter’s Hall, East Bank Demerara (EBD).
The jeep was proceeding along Vlissengen Road, while the motor car was travelling along Sandy Babb Street.
At the time of the accident, the driver of the motor car was reportedly crossing the intersection on the ‘green light’ when the driver of the jeep failed to stop, thus resulting in a collision.
Mekdeci and Baksh sustained injuries to their bodies, and were picked up by an ambulance in an unconscious condition and taken to the Georgetown Public Hospital.
Baksh was admitted as a patient to the Emergency Unit of the hospital, suffering from a broken left arm, a laceration to the head, and a punctured left lung. Mekdeci, on the other hand, was pronounced dead on arrival.
A breathalyser test administered on the driver of the jeep proved that he was above the legal limit of alcohol consumption.
Mekdeci was a squash player who had recently participated in the Georgetown Squash Association-organised Squash League. In 2019, he had performed exceptionally well in the Bounty Farm Handicap Squash tournament.