Father, child die in Orangestein accident 

A father and his four-month-old son have died in a tragic accident along the Orangestein Public Road, East Bank Essequibo, on Friday.

Dead are Luke Persaud, a 22-year-old resident of Meten- Meer- Zorg, and his son, Khrisna Persaud. The child’s mother was injured in the accident.

Police Headquarters, in a release, said initial enquiries revealed that the 27-year-old driver of motor lorry GZZ 5068 was proceeding north out of a parking lot of a shopping mall, situated on the southern parapet, at around 11:00 hrs Friday. At that time, another motor lorry proceeding west along the southern side of the road stopped and allowed the driver of  GZZ 5068 to turn and proceed east.

At the same time, however, Luke was riding motorcycle CM 5492 with the woman and child west along the southern side of the road. Police said Luke was reportedly speeding, and while overtaking a stationary motor lorry on the solid double yellow lines, he ended up on the northern side of the road and collided with the right-side front portion of GZZ 5068.

As a result of the collision, the motorcyclist and pillion riders fell onto the road surface and sustained injuries to their bodies. They were picked up in an unconscious condition and taken to the De Kinderen Regional Hospital, where Krishna and Luke were pronounced dead by a doctor on duty.

The 19-year-old woman later regained consciousness and was admitted to the female surgical ward, suffering from head and other injuries. Her condition is regarded as stable.

The bodies of  Luke and Krishna are presently lying at the Ezekiel Funeral Home awaiting post-mortem examinations.

Meanwhile, the driver of the motor lorry is in police custody, assisting with investigations. A breathalyser test was conducted on the driver of the motor lorry, and no trace of alcohol was detected.

A release from TOPCO, which owns the truck lorry involved in the accident, noted that the company is also cooperating with the relevant authorities as they conduct their investigation into the circumstances surrounding the accident.

Police have also said that CCTV footage was seen and obtained.