Elderly cyclist dies after hit, dragged by car

A 54-year-old pedal cyclist died Tuesday night after he was struck by a motor car (HD 1646) along the Mandela to Eccles Highway.

Dead is Clus Griffith, a security guard of Nelson Street, Mocha, East Bank Demerara. Police Headquarters reported that the accident occurred at about 22:15 hrs within the vicinity of Sheriff Security Service.

The car was being driven by 27-year-old Dexroy Fredricks. He told investigators that he was proceeding south along the eastern carriageway when he suddenly observed the pedal cyclist.

He claimed the man rode into the path of his vehicle while attempting to cross from the western drive lane to the eastern drive lane.

Fredericks said he applied brakes but unsuccessfully swerved from hitting Griffith.

Police said Griffith was flung into the air and landed on the front windscreen of the car and then onto the road. He was then dragged about 200 feet from where the collision occurred.

The ambulance service was summoned, and the pedal cyclist was pronounced dead at the accident scene. Griffith’s body is at the Memorial Gardens Funeral Home, awaiting a post-mortem examination.

A breathalyzer test was administered to the driver of the car, and no trace of alcohol was found in his system. The driver remains in custody, assisting with the investigation.