Former army Chief of Staff Gary Best, who was hospitalised after being held by police over Saturday’s accident that claimed the life of cyclist Jude Bentley was discharged yesterday and has been placed on $100,000 station bail while investigations continue.
The police last night said that his passport has also been lodged.
Traffic Chief Linden Isles yesterday said that the investigation into the accident is ongoing and once completed the file will be sent for legal advice, which will determine the way forward.
Best, a retired Rear Admiral, was taken to the GPH on Sunday morning after he complained of feeling unwell. While there, he was under police guard. He was discharged from the hospital yesterday afternoon.
Best was arrested by police on Saturday morning after the fatal accident.
Bentley was struck while cycling along Clive Lloyd Drive by a vehicle driven by Best. The accident occurred at approximately 4.31 am in the vicinity of the northern side of the Russian Embassy as Bentley, 41, of Lot 33 Robb Street, Georgetown, was on his way to meet a group of cyclists for training. Best, who was driving an SUV, #PRR 8182, was proceeding in the same direction.
In a statement issued on Saturday night, the police, who did not name Best, but identified him as a 61-year-old resident of Sparendaam, East Coast Demerara, said he disclosed that he was proceeding east along the southern lane. He alleged that the cyclist suddenly appeared in front of him and that he applied brakes and the right side of the front of his vehicle collided with the cyclist, who fell onto the roadway and sustained injuries.
After the impact, the vehicle dislodged a lamp pole on the southern side of the road.
The police said on Saturday that Bentley was pronounced dead at the accident scene, while Best, who failed a breathalyser test, was in custody assisting with the investigation.
An autopsy yesterday revealed that Bentley died as a result of multiple injuries.
Sources had told this newspaper that at the time of the accident, Best was heading home after leaving a city night spot. He reportedly told the police at the scene that he did not see Bentley since he was not wearing any reflectors and had no lights.
However, Bentley’s relatives have since denied his claim, while noting that he was “fully geared”.
Their position has been supported by a short video from the camera of a vehicle that recorded Bentley cycling minutes before he met his demise.
In the video, which was uploaded to Facebook, Bentley can be seen riding east along Carifesta Avenue, approaching the Kitty roundabout. From a distance, a red “blinking” light can be seen at the rear of his bicycle.
Best said he tried to avoid hitting Bentley but still came into contact with the bicycle. Bentley was dragged several feet away from the point of impact before the vehicle came to halt. His mangled bicycle was left in the middle of the road.
‘Screeching’ sound
At the scene, residents had recalled hearing a loud “screeching” sound. Upon checking, they said they learnt of the accident.
A resident, Martina Johnson yesterday told Stabroek News that she was awakened by the loud “screeching” sound.
She said she has become “very familiar” with this sound due to the frequent accidents in the area.
Johnson explained that upon looking outside she saw a vehicle dragging from the left to the right side of the road. She said she did not notice Bentley’s bicycle at that point.
“The vehicle slammed into the centre piece that divides Rupert Craig Highway, then hit a lamp post. The front portion of the vehicle was more elevated while the rear appeared closer to the ground. The vehicle’s front lights and the light from the lamp post could be seen brightly lighting up the sky. Within a split second the vehicle was no longer in my line of sight because of the overgrown shrubbery outside the neighbour’s yard. The lamp post fell,” Johnson related.
She said she then called out to a minibus driver who was passing at the time of the accident and had exited his vehicle to investigate. Johnson added that she asked the man to check out the scene and let her know what had happened.
“…He returned a few minutes later and said the black vehicle had struck down a cyclist who was on the ground bleeding and appeared dead,” Johnson said.
She stated that she asked him whether he had contacted an emergency personnel and he responded in a negative, while noting that he didn’t have a phone.
As a result, Johnson said she immediately contacted the police. Paramedics arrived within 10 minutes.
By that time, Johnson said she had already gone to the scene to render any assistance she could.
While paramedics were attending to Bentley, Johnson said Best stood on the median.
Johnson further related that she spoke to the police, who had promised to get back to her for a statement. Up to yesterday morning, she said the police had not contacted her.
It was unclear if there were any nearby surveillance cameras which might have captured the accident. However, in a photograph seen by this newspaper, a dash cam was seen in Best’s vehicle.
Relatives and friends of Bentley have called for justice.
A petition has been created online for justice for Bentley. Up to last evening, it was signed by over 500 persons. It can be seen at: https://secure.avaaz.org/en/community_petitions/supporters_jusice_for_jude_bentley_/?fRGNwpb&fbclid=IwAR0KAlA2PvHoMVivSCHL7eiohwwNJDNucPPYJIwvCVOSSWLlAcVcKE9BKMU
