Guyanese businessman killed by drunken driver in New York

A 45-year-old Guyanese businessman was killed and his sister injured when a car driven by a drunken driver slammed into them as they attempted to cross a New York street early yesterday morning.

The driver of the vehicle being arrested by police (Nicastro/New York Daily News)

Enrico Greaves popularly called ‘Boy Blue,’ who operated the Chemical Boss Liquor Store in the Vendor’s Arcade died shortly after being struck, while his sister Cheryl has been admitted to hospital in a serious condition.

This newspaper was told that the Lot 2976 North Ruimveldt resident and his wife, Merlyn had arrived in the USA on Friday evening. This is the first time that the wife was visiting the country.

According to yesterday’s internet edition of the New York Daily News, the police said that Greaves was struck so hard by the vehicle that he was knocked out of his sneakers, and was propelled twelve feet in the air before coming to land on the asphalt of Linden Boulevard. He died a short time later at Brookdale University Hospital.

The daily went on to report investigators as saying that Greaves was walking with four other people when they decided to cross the road. The businessman was a little behind the others, and could not get out of the way of an approaching green 2001 Ford Expedition.

The paper quoted an eye-witness as saying, “He was dragging behind and the car just smashed into him. He (flew) up to the stoplight.”
The SUV driven by 31-year-old Kelvin Hall skidded to a halt “halfway down the block,” the Daily News said. Hall was arrested and failed a breathalyzer test, police said. He has been charged with driving while impaired.

Greaves’ brother-in-law, Julian James told Stabroek News that the businessman travels to the USA often. He said he was told that Greaves pushed his sister out of the path of the car.
In addition to his wife James said the man leaves to mourn eight children, his mother, Doreen and about nine siblings.