Nineteen-year-old Rayon Alves was on Wednesday released on $600,000 bail for the fatal accident on Valentine’s Day at Homestretch Avenue, which claimed the lives of two of his friends.
Alves, of East La Penitence, Georgetown, appeared before Magistrate Leron Daly at the Georgetown Magistrates’ and pleaded not guilty to two charges.
Particulars of the charges alleged that on February 14 at Homestretch Avenue, he drove PVV 1289 in a dangerous matter which resulted in the death of Dakera Gritten, 19, and 21-year-old Tonika Halley, 21.
His attorney, Dexter Todd, told the court that Alves assisted the victim at the scene, but the court prosecutor claimed that Alves fled the scene and went home.
The Magistrate granted Alves $300,000 bail on each charge and adjourned the matter until March 15. Magistrate Daly also suspended Alves’ licence and ordered that his passport be lodged at the court.
According to a police report, on February 14 around 00:30 hours, Alves was the driver of motorcar PVV 1289, in which there was Gritten and Halley, and three others.
It is alleged that the said motor car was proceeding west in the northern direction of the Homestretch Avenue at a fast rate when Alves lost control of the motor vehicle and collided into a utility pole on the parapet. The motor car toppled several times and ended up in a trench.
They were all removed from the vehicle with the help of public-spirited citizens and was taken to the Georgetown Public Hospital. Alves fled the scene but was later arrested by police.
Gritten was pronounced dead on arrival while Halley succumbed to her injuries while receiving medical attention. The other passengers received injuries to various parts of their bodies.
