Drunk driver kills unidentified pedestrian at Providence

An unidentified pedestrian was struck down on Sunday evening on the Providence Public Road, East Bank of Demerara (EBD), by 34-year-old Shivendra Ramraj, who was reportedly driving a motorcar under the influence of alcohol.

According to a police report, Ramraj was driving south along the eastern carriageway, on the western driving lane, at a fast rate of speed.

Police reported Ramraj alleged that the pedestrian ran across the road from east to west into the path of his vehicle.

When he saw the pedestrian do so, the driver applied brakes to avoid a collision, but, according to the police report, the front centre portion of his vehicle collided with the pedestrian who fell onto the road surface and sustained injuries about his body.

The pedestrian was picked up in an unconscious condition and placed into the said motorcar and taken to the Diamond Diagnostic Centre, EBD, where he was seen and examined by doctors on duty. He was, however, pronounced him dead on arrival.

Meanwhile, a breathalyzer test was conducted on the driver and the first test read 151 microgrammes with the second test reading 161 microgrammes of alcohol in his breath.

For context, persons can be charged for drunk driving if, when tested, their blood alcohol content is found to exceed the prescribed limit of 35 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath, and their blood alcohol concentration exceeds 80 milligrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of blood.

The driver remains in custody as further inquiries are in progress.