4-month-old baby, motorcyclist killed in accident at Orangestein

A motorcycle rider and a four-month-old baby were killed on Friday morning in a crash on the Orangestein Public Road, East Bank Essequibo (EBE), while a 19-year-old woman remains hospitalised.

Dead are 22-year-old Krishna Persaud of Meten-Meer-Zorg, West Coast Demerara (WCD), who was riding motorcycle CM 5492, and four-month-old Luke Persaud, who was one of the pillion riders.

Police said the fatal accident occurred at about 11:00h and involved motor lorry GZZ 5068, driven by a 27-year-old man of Covent Garden, East Bank Demerara (EBD).

According to the police, the lorry was proceeding north out of a shopping mall parking lot situated on the southern parapet of the road. Investigators said another motor lorry travelling west along the southern side of the road stopped and allowed the driver of GZZ 5068 to turn and proceed east.

Police said that as the driver was making the turn, the motorcycle, which was also travelling west along the southern side of the road at a fast rate, overtook the stationary lorry on the solid double yellow lines.

In doing so, the motorcycle ended up on the northern side of the road and collided with the right-side front portion of motor lorry GZZ 5068. The impact threw the motorcyclist and the two pillion riders onto the roadway, leaving them with multiple injuries.

They were taken in an unconscious condition to the De Kinderen Regional Hospital, where Krishna Persaud and baby Luke Persaud were pronounced dead on arrival by a doctor on duty.

The 19-year-old female pillion rider later regained consciousness and was admitted to the female surgical ward suffering from head and other injuries. Police said her condition is regarded as stable.

The bodies of the deceased are at the Ezekiel Funeral Home awaiting post-mortem examinations. Meanwhile, the driver of the motor lorry is in police custody, assisting investigators.

Police said a breathalyser test was conducted and no trace of alcohol was found in his system. CCTV footage of the incident has since been obtained as investigations continue.