19-year-old charged for failure to render assistance in Corentyne fatal accident

By Malisa Playter Harry

Matthew Stephen Lutchana who was driving Toyota Corolla 192 bearing license plate PLL 3946 which struck down 26-year-old David Murray at Number 51 Village, East Berbice-Corentyne on Monday evening was charged with failure to render assistance and failure to stop at the scene of an accident.

The Post Mortem conducted on the pedestrian, Murray, revealed bronco asphyxiation to be the cause of death.

According to information gathered, Murray had just left a religious function located a few houses away from where he lives and was consuming something when he was hit which caused him to suffocate.

 

Lutchana appeared at the Springlands Magistrate’s Court on Thursday where he was charged.

 

He was placed on $20,000 bail, but was then re-arrested and placed on a substantial amount of station bail for causing death by dangerous driving. However, the case file for that charge has been sent to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Office for advice.

 

On Monday (August 01, 2016), Lutchana who is an overseas-based Guyanese was heading home from the #63 beach at about 19:30 hrs at a fast rate when he struck down Murray who was walking along the public road. He then escaped the scene of the accident. He then related the incident to a relative at Black Bush Polder and was taken to the police station.

 

Murray was rushed to the Skeldon Hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

 

Mathew’s relatives told News Room that he drove off because residents of the village flocked his car which caused him to panic.

 

His relatives also explained that he was expected to leave the country on the 15 August, but has extended his flight in light of the situation.