Bus driver held over hit-and-run fatality

Police have taken the driver of the Route 63 (Georgetown to Moleson Creek) minibus that was involved in Saturday evening’s hit-and-run fatality into custody to assist with investigations.

Somadatt Seegobin of 2 Bel Air, East Coast Demerara and a father of one was pronounced dead on arrival at the GPHC on Saturday evening after being struck at the back of his head following the hit by the minibus.

According to Seegobin’s sister, Rekha Reddi, when they reported to the Sparendaam police station yesterday morning as directed by the police, the bus was at the station but the driver had not yet been found.

The police informed them that they would check the Licence and Registration office to check for ownership of the bus. It is not clear whether the man turned himself in or was sought out by the police; but Stabroek News learnt that he was in custody up to late yesterday afternoon.

The man’s father, Kampta Seegobin, had told Stabroek News that residents related to him that when they had confronted the driver he threatened them with a cutlass, returned to his bus and drove off.  The man said that his son had just finished talking to a friend who was standing in his yard off the Embankment road.

The conversation ended and the friend had just turned around when he heard the impact of the bus hitting Seegobin. The same friend ran to inform the family of the accident and despite a frantic rush to get him to the hospital; he did not survive the fatal hit.