Fireman dies after motorbike crashes into cycle

A fireman was killed on the spot last evening when the motorcycle he was riding collided with a pedal cyclist on the Grove Public Road, East Bank Demerara.

Dead is 23-year-old David McKenzie of Nismes, West Bank Demerara, who was stationed at the Central Fire Station on Water Street. Up to press time last evening, the pedal cyclist, Sasenarine Kishun, 43, of Diamond Housing Scheme was receiving medical attention at the Diamond Diagnostic Centre where he was rushed after the accident which occurred just before 7 pm.

McKenzie’s friend, Trevor John, told Stabroek News that about six of them on motorcycles were returning home after an outing at a creek on the Linden/Soesdyke Highway.

He said he did not see what happened as he was travelling at the back, but he heard the impact. John said there was no drinking during the outing because they knew they had to ride to get home. He pointed out that they even made an effort to leave the creek early because they didn’t want to get home too late. From all indications, McKenzie sustained serious head injuries after his helmet “pitched off”.

Meanwhile, Kishun’s niece Surojinie Harricharran said they did not know what led to the accident but a call was made to a taxi base they operated informing them of the accident and requesting a car to be sent to take her uncle to the hospital.
She said the information they received was that he was exiting a street when the accident occurred.

At the scene, McKenzie’s slippers were at the side of the road several feet from where his body ended up after the crash.
Eyewitnesses said Kishun rode out onto the public road without stopping.