Driver on $200k bail for causing death of Ian Mekdeci in Sandy Babb St. accident

Engineer, Roberto Narine, was on Wednesday released on $200,000 bail for the fatal accident at the intersection of Sandy Babb Street and Vlissengen, which claimed the life of 27-year-old Ian Mekdeci.

Narine of Peter’s Hall, East Bank Demerara, appeared before City Magistrate Leron Daly and pleaded not guilty to the charge of causing death by dangerous driving.

It is alleged that on May 1, 2022, at Sandy Babb Street and Vlissengen Road, he drove motor jeep #PTT 4136 in a dangerous manner which resulted in the death of Mekdeci.

He was represented by attorney-at-law Siand Dhurjon who rebuffed reports by the police that his client was intoxicated and breached the stoplight at the intersection at the time of the accident.

Dhurjon told the court that he will be challenging the reliability of breathalyzer test.

The Magistrate ordered Narine to lodge his passport at the court and report to the Alberttown Police Station every Friday until the completion of the case.  The matter is adjourned until June 15, 2022.

On Tuesday, Narine was charged before City Magistrate Clive Nurse for driving under the influence of alcohol and driving an unlicensed vehicle.

He was released on $20,000 bail on the first charge and fined $20,000 for the second charge.

The accident occurred on Sunday between two vehicles at the intersection of Sandy Babb Street and Vlissengen Road in the vicinity of Camp Ayanganna in the wee hours of Saturday.

The driver of the vehicle Mekdeci was in, 31-year-old Sheik Baksh of Dowding Street, Kitty remains in a critical condition at the Georgetown Public Hospital.

Police Headquarters said Baksh suffered a broken left arm, laceration to the head and a punctured left lung.

According to the police report, Baksh was driving PXX 4592 while Narine was driving motor jeep PTT 4136 at around 02:15hrs.

It is alleged that Narine was driving along Vlissengen Road while Baksh was proceeding west along Sandy Babb Street and crossed the intersection on the ‘green light.’

However, it is alleged that Narine failed to stop at the intersection and crashed into the left side of Baksh’s car.

As a result of the collision, both vehicles were damaged extensively.  A breathalyzer test was conducted on Narine and revealed that he was “way above the legal limit,” police said.