A speeding car fatally struck two cyclists on the Devonshire Castle Public Road yesterday morning and the driver is in custody.
The Region Two accident occurred around 12.50 am and involved motor car PAD 831 owned and driven by Derindra Sitaram.
Those killed were pedal cyclists, Mohan Maniram, 51, of Lot 289 Hampton Court, Essequibo Coast and Zamaan Rafeek c/d Wakoo, 22, of Lot 25 Paradise, Essequibo Coast.
A police press release said that investigations revealed that Sitaram was proceeding west on the Devonshire Castle Public Road at a fast rate, while Mohan and Rafeek were proceeding in the said direction on the same side of the road. The driver crashed into the pedal cyclists. Both pedal cyclists and the car ended up in a trench on the southern side of the road.
The release said that the lifeless body of Mohan was pulled from the trench and conveyed to the Suddie Public Hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival. Further checks were conducted by investigators and members of the public at about 9.40 am yesterday and the body of Rafeek was discovered in the same trench. Both bodies are presently at the Suddie Mortuary awaiting post-mortem examinations.
According to the police, Sitaram was later arrested at his residence, which is about two hundred feet from the accident scene. He was escorted to the Anna Regina Police Station and placed into custody. The car was escorted to the Anna Regina Police Station. A breathalyzer test was conducted on the driver and readings were 45 micrograms and 43 micrograms respectively which are above the prescribed limit.
