Driver dies after ignoring stop sign at Mocha/Heroes Highway intersection

Police are probing a fatal road accident that claimed the life of a 64-year-old Georgetown man early Wednesday morning after he failed to stop at a major intersection on the East Bank of Demerara.

The crash occurred around 05:30 hrs at the junction of the Mocha Main Access Road and the Eastern Carriageway of Heroes Highway, Mocha Village. Dead is Charles Richards, 64, of Lot 31 Sandy Babb Street, Kitty, Georgetown, who was driving motor car #PAH 7906.

According to police, Richards was heading east along the Mocha Access Road when he failed to obey a clearly marked stop sign and line at the intersection. He drove into the path of motor lorry #GAH 9771, driven by 29-year-old Arif Haniff of Cove and John, East Coast Demerara, who was proceeding south along Heroes Highway. The resulting collision left both vehicles extensively damaged.

Emergency responders arrived shortly after, but Richards was pronounced dead at the scene due to severe head and body injuries. His body was later taken to the Memorial Gardens Funeral Home Mortuary, where it awaits a post-mortem examination.

Police confirmed that Haniff was subjected to a breathalyser test, which returned negative for alcohol. He has since been taken into custody and is assisting investigators. A Notice of Intended Prosecution has been served on him.