Fireman to be charged over Bagotville fatal crash

The Chambers of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) has advised that the member of the Guyana Fire Service who allegedly struck down and killed boat builder, Clement Skeete more than three months ago be charged.

Traffic Chief Deon Moore on Saturday confirmed that the advice was given and he has since dispatched the file to the police in ‘D’ Division.

The driver is expected to appear in court early this week where he will face a charge of causing death by dangerous driving.

Clement Skeete

Sixty-year-old Skeete of Lot 111 Bagotville, West Bank Demerara was struck down and killed by a motorcar on the evening of October 14 while crossing the Bagotville Public Road, in the vicinity of his home.

The accident was witnessed by his 10-year-old son who was awaiting his arrival since it was customary for them to purchase ice cream every Friday afternoon.

Skeete sustained massive head injuries and a fractured neck. He was rushed to the West Demerara Regional Hospital before being transferred to the Georgetown Public Hospital where he died while receiving medical attention.

The driver was arrested and subsequently released on $150,000 station bail after his 72-hour detention period expired.

The police in a press release had said that Skeete was riding across the road when he ended up in the path of a car which was proceeding south.

He was hit, fell onto the roadway and was taken to the hospital where he subsequently died. A breathalyzer test was conducted on the driver but no trace of alcohol was recorded.

Reports reaching this newspaper had revealed that Skeete had left for work on the morning of October 14 last year and was returning home when tragedy struck.

After he was hit by the car, he was flung into the air before falling onto the roadway.

The child had related that his father was halfway across the road when the speeding car appeared from nowhere and hit him off his bicycle.

The driver stopped a short distance away after realizing he had hit someone.

Skeete’s family, which had expressed their frustration on numerous occasions since the accident about the police investigations, believes that they are now one step closer in receiving justice.