Cyclist being sought over accident that claimed life of police corporal
The police are making efforts to identify and locate a pedal cyclist who was seen using the roadway incorrectly shortly before Police Corporal Dawn Booker was crushed to death on Monday by a truck along the La Penitence Public Road, Georgetown.
In video footage which captured the accident, it was observed that Booker was proceeding south on the eastern parapet of the public road, whilst a male pedal cyclist was proceeding in the opposite direction on the said parapet.
As the male pedal cyclist approached Booker, she drifted into the path of the truck and fell onto the roadway. The driver of the motor lorry, GNN 5584 continued his journey and the left rear wheel drove over Booker’s head.
In an invited comment yesterday, Traffic Chief Ramesh Ashram told Stabroek News that ranks will be reviewing the footage with the hope of identifying the male pedal cyclist.
“They (police) got to try to see if they can get the footage closer, see if they could identify him and go around in the area and find out,” he said.
At the time of the accident, the male pedal cyclist was supposed to be riding on the right hand side of the road and not the left.
Ashram was unable to say at this time whether he is likely to face any charge/s. However, he said once the investigation is completed, the file will be sent to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), who will provide legal advice on the way forward.
Booker, 57, of Perseverance, Mahaicony, East Coast Demerara (ECD) died on spot on Monday morning after she lost control of her bicycle and fell along the La Penitence Public Road.
The accident occurred around 8.15 am in the vicinity of La Penitence Market.
The police had said that as the two cyclists were passing each other Booker swerved west and lost control of her pedal cycle.
As a result, Booker fell onto roadway where she came into contact with the left rear wheel of the truck which was proceeding south on the eastern side of the public road.
A motor vehicle was also parked on the eastern parapet of the public road at the time.
Speaking to Stabroek News yesterday, Booker’s niece, Samantha Prince said that if the pedal cyclist was using the road correctly the accident could have been avoided or could have possibly been less serious.
“What I hear is that she (Booker) swerve out from a cyclist and she bike drop in a hole and she pitch off on the road causing the truck to run over her head,” Samantha Prince said.
Prince maintained that her aunt was not responsible in any way for the accident.
“Is the guy (pedal cyclist) that went side by side her, she was trying to swerve out from him and then she went in the hole. If that truck wasn’t coming maybe she would have been alive. They woulda take her to the hospital or something,” she added.
Prince said based on what she was told, the section of the road where the accident occurred is also “high and low”. “The part of the road uneven like. The road got a high and low part and is drop she drop in some hole,” she explained.
Prior to the accident, Prince said she understood that Booker had left the High Court and was heading to Ruimveldt.
For years, she said Booker rode to and
from work.
Following the accident, the driver of the motor lorry was arrested. He was subsequently released on bail as the investigation continues.
A breathalyser test conducted on the driver, a 26 year-old Corentyne, Berbice resident found no trace of alcohol on his breath, the police said.