By Zoisa Fraser
A 30-year-old police lance corporal died yesterday when the motorcycle he was riding collided with a truck laden with supplies at the corner of Regent and Light streets.
Michael Pratt of Lot 1613 Cadet Lane, South Ruimveldt Park succumbed to the injuries he sustained moments after arriving at the Georgetown Hospital around 10:40 am.
Pratt, a Criminal Investigation Department (CID) rank, at the time of the accident was heading home after leaving Timehri where he was stationed. This newspaper was told that he suffered massive head injuries and numerous broken bones. He was gasping for breath on arrival at the hospital but was pronounced dead inside the treatment room of the Accident and Emergency Unit seconds later.
Dead: Michael Pratt
A police press release said investigations have so far revealed that Pratt was riding his motorcycle east along the northern side of Regent Street when it is alleged that lorry GKK 3495 which was proceeding along Light Street collided with him. The release added that the driver of the lorry is in police custody assisting with the investigations.
When Stabroek News arrived on the scene many had gathered and the truck was parked at the corner of the road while Pratt’s motorcycle, with its front smashed in was a few feet behind.
Shattered glass littered the road way and the traffic had slowed to a crawl. Several traffic ranks were on the scene and the point of impact was already marked off.
A man who was tending to his vehicle at the RRT Enterprise on Regent Street told Stabroek News that he saw the motorcyclist speeding east along Regent Street and shortly after he heard a loud bang.
The man said that when he saw the motorcyclist he was not wearing a helmet and when he rushed to the scene, the man was not responding. According to him the man sustained serious head injuries and his fingers appeared to have been broken.
Michael Pratt’s motorcycle
Persons on the scene also said that at the time of the accident Pratt was not wearing a helmet, which was later found in a bag he had. They told this newspaper that Pratt after realizing that the truck was about to cross Regent Street attempted to swerve but was still hit. He was thrown onto a nearby car before landing on the roadway, this newspaper was told.
Pratt was rushed to the hospital in the company of the truck driver.
Tears flowed at the medical institution when relatives and friends of the man arrived only to hear that he had died. Some tried their best to contain themselves while comforting the man’s mother and wife.
Still a dream: Michael Pratt’s wife Unika holding their four-month-old daughter Yezudah.
One of his colleagues told this newspaper that Pratt had been a member of the Force for about six years.
Holding, their four-month-old daughter Yezudah, his wife Unika was still in shock and told this newspaper that it all seems like a dream to her. Speaking at her South Ruimveldt home the woman said that Pratt was a wonderful husband to her and a good father to their daughter. She recalled that her husband’s uncle came and informed her that there had been an accident.
She said that when she arrived at the hospital, he was already dead and wrapped but no one wanted to tell her anything.
“This is still all a dream. I still believe that I am dreaming and he will come home”, she said recalling that yesterday her husband would have been sitting an exam at the University of Guyana.
Pratt’s mother-in-law Maureen described him as a quiet person who was always there for his wife. “He was a very nice father. I don’t know why he had to take him away… Anyway God’s knows best”, she said adding that when he began riding his motorbike sometime last year she told him that she didn’t like it.
This newspaper was told that upon reaching the city, he went and picked up his motorcycle from his brother with the intention of heading home.
The truck that Michael Pratt’s bike collided with yesterday at the corner of Regent and Light streets.
Pratt also leaves to mourn his siblings and his parents Michael Pratt and Wendy.
That’s what happens when some police believe THEY IS THE LAW instead of believing they’re being the representatives of the law. As a police he should know that when you break the law, you pay for it, but because he is a police, he knows his buddies won’t stop him and charge him for breakingt the law. If the police took their jobs seriously and treated everyone as equals and not believe they’re the law or even bigger than the law, he would know to ride with his PPE on. He probably would have been alive today.
Mackydog you come over crude and heartless, but the fact it, that is the nature of reality. I agree with U that Mr. Pratt may have been alive today if only he had submitted to the law and worn his helmet.
Sometimes it’s easy to forget how fragile the human body really is.
Now we have another young widow and a fatherless child. This is not good at all.
My condolences to his wife, child, and family
PS.
His mother-in-law means well when she says “God knows best”, but God
cannot be blamed for things like this. If he had used wisdom and worn his
gear we won’t be having this conversation today. I’ll bet that this was an
untimely death.
My condolonces to the family.Sad to see a fellow human being and young father
go in this manner.For those who are reading and have to operate a motor cycle
please use your protective head gear,
This is very very sad. My condolonces to the family.
My condolences to the wife for such a loss, this was such a young family that has been shattered, I do face similar problems with motorcyclist, when you would have gotten to a junction, check for the all clear, then proceed to move, it is impossible to anticipate that a motorcycle will suddenly appear. If speeding, that motorcycle can move from invisible to glaringly visible and in a collision in less than 30 seconds and even worst if there is a slight curve in the road. I was involved in a similar accident and was found liable eventhough the other party was way over the speed limit. I assume using the headgear may have made a difference. Do not drive over the speed limit, proceed with caution at junctions even if you have the right of way, YOU CAN BE DEAD RIGHT.
I have one thing to say I use to ride motorcycle then I notice lots of riders start dying plenty and I got rid of mine and got a second hand car. I know that this is some people only independent means of transport but you can add a little more money and get a second hand car. Yes you can die in a car too but its much safer. I think I know the family of this man my condolence to you for your tragic loss. I dont know if people notice but its always truck sand motorbikes when it result in death of the rider.
A very sad day for this young family indeed. My condolences to his grieving families. May God give them the strength to cope at this time. This death was unfortunate and could have been avoided if the rider had adhere to the rules of the road when riding a motor cycle. I used to ride a motor cycle also and I always make sure that I wear my protective gear because you never know what can happen. This rider should have used his commonsence and comply with the rule. But I guess when something has to happen it will and no one can stop it. Maybe he had to go in this manner. Rest in peace brother.
my condolences 2 the family of micheal pratt he was one of my internet friend for about three years now .may his soul rest in peace
LoveGT4Real,
I’m not heartless, maybe crude because I did not offer my sympathy towards his death, but the focus of my comment was about the comraderie that exist within our police force. Too long has the police covered for each other to now it resulted in the death of one of their own. If Detective Pratt knew that he can be charged by his colleague Mr. Traffic cop (even though Det. Pratt is also a police) he would have worn his helmet, but the police encourage police with lawlessness and so this is the result. Plain talk bad manners…