Police sergeant critical following East Bank hit and run

A police sergeant is currently in critical condition after he was struck down and run over on Tuesday night by a drunk driver along the East Bank Public Road at Peters Hall. The suspect who drove away was later arrested.

The injured policeman has been identified as 41-year-old Police Sergeant 17774 Rajendra Major, of Cummings Park, Sophia, who is attached to the Providence Police Station.

According to a police report, the accident involved motorcycle CL 477 owned by the Guyana Police Force which was ridden by Major; a car registered as PSS 3327, owned and driven by the suspect, 36-year-old Abdool Safraz Nazir of Eccles; a jeep registered as PHH 9446 owned by Jamal Pedro of West Ruimveldt and driven by 39-year-old Michael Oie along with four occupants; 33-year-old Chris Gallway, 32-year-old Melissa Haley, 52-year-old Patricia Gallway and threeyear-old Emmanuel Gallway, all of West Ruimveldt, Georgetown.

Enquiries revealed that about 11:20pm, Major was proceeding north along the western drive lane of the western carriageway at Peters Hall along the East Bank Public Road. Major upon approaching the intersection at the Demerara Harbour Bridge Access Road and the East Bank Public Road was in front of Nazir who was proceeding behind allegedly at a fast rate. He collided with the rear of the motorcycle causing Major to end up on the windscreen of the car before he was flung into the air and onto the road in front of the car in question, which then ran over the policeman before continuing north on the eastern drive lane of the western carriageway of the East Bank Public Road. The suspect in his apparent bid to escape then collided with the jeep which was proceeding on the western drive lane of the western carriageway causing the jeep to turn turtle before ending up in a trench situated on the western side of the road at Bagotstown. The suspect continued further north along the road but lost control of the vehicle resulting in him ending up in a drain situated on the western side of the road at Eccles in the vicinity of Kenrick Auto Sales.

Major was picked up in an unconscious state by public-spirited citizens and rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital where he was admitted suffering from head injuries. The occupants of the jeep were taken to the Diamond Hospital where they were treated for minor injuries and sent away.

The driver of the car was apprehended and placed in custody where a Breathalyzer test was conducted on him and read 79 and 146 micrograms of alcohol.

Investigations are ongoing.