Motorcyclist dies after taxi driver jumps traffic light

An errant taxi driver who failed to adhere to the stop signal at the intersection of Nelson Mandela Avenue and Cemetery Road on Friday morning crashed into a motorcyclist, killing him.

Dead is 33-year-old Martin Samuels of Nutmeg Street, Festival City, North Ruimveldt, Georgetown. At the time, he was riding a motorcycle CL 8097.

The driver of hire car HD 3165 has been identified as 52-year-old Lloyd McKenzie of Bel Field, East Coast Demerara; Police Headquarters reported that the incident occurred at about 07:15 hrs.

It is alleged that Samuels was proceeding west along the southern drive lane of Nelson Mandela Avenue while the taxi driver was proceeding east along the extreme southern lane of the northern carriageway of the road.

According to the Police report, as the taxi driver approached the intersection, the traffic light was red but McKenzie failed to comply and instead proceeded to negotiate a right turn onto the southern carriageway. In the process of doing so, he collided with the motorcyclist.

As a result of the collision, Samuels was flung in the air and landed on the road; he sustained severe injuries. He was picked up in an unconscious state by Emergency Medical Technicians and taken to the Georgetown Public Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

The taxi driver is currently in custody, assisting with the investigation.