Kitty man involved in fatal accident charged with drunk driving, without tint permit

Twenty-nine-year old Joel Thomas appeared before Magistrate Clive Nurse Wednesday charged with driving under the influence of alcohol and without a tint permit.

The young man of Thomas Street, Kitty Georgetown, was involved in the recent accident on Vlissengen Road which claimed the life of a 28-year-old motorcyclist Stephon Beckles while the pillion rider Kevin Andy remains hospitalised.

Thomas pleaded guilty to the charge which alleged that on July 8, 2019, at Vlissengen Road he drove motor vehicle PTT 2510 with glass tinted beyond the legally prescribed Visible Light Transmission (VLT) percentage (VLT).

He was fined $7,500 for that offence.

He pleaded not guilty to the second charge which alleged that on the same date in question, he drove the car while his breath alcohol level was above the legal limit.

He was released on $10,000 bail but was immediately taken back into Police custody and the investigation continues into the fatal accident.

Thomas is being represented by Attorney-at-law Siand Dhurjon.

Police Headquarters revealed that Beckles of Guyhoc Park, Georgetown lost his life while his 22-year-old friend, Kevin Andy of Perry Street, Tucville is hospitalised after their motorcycle CH 9859 collided head-on with Thomas’s motor car on the day in question.

Police reported that Thomas was proceeding North along the western lane of Vlissengen Road, while the motorcycle was proceeding south along the eastern lane of the said road at a fast rate of speed.

It is alleged by Thomas that the motorcycle ended up in his lane which resulted in the head-on collision.

Police said both Beckles and Andy fell off the motorcycle and received severe injuries to the head and other parts of the body.

Beckles was picked up in an unconscious state and rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival.