Causing death driver released on bail

Jul 29, 2014 News

The 19-year-old driver who swerved off the No.19 Public Road on Thursday, killing a young Guysuco employee has been released on bail. The dead employee was standing in the corner awaiting transportation on his way to work.

The deceased and wife in happier times.

The driver, Ricardo Ramcharran Approo, 19, of Le Ressouvenir, East Coast Demerara, appeared before Magistrate Rhondell Weaver in the New Amsterdam Magistrate’s Court, yesterday, charged with Causing Death by Dangerous Driving. He was granted $500,000 bail.
Approo, who was allegedly driving motor car PRR 9655 as a private hire taxi on July 24, last, at an alleged fast rate of speed is charged with killing pedestrian Vickram Ramlakhan, 26, of Number 11 Village, East Coast Berbice, a Bell Loader Operator at the Albion Sugar Estate, Corentyne.
Ramlakhan was reportedly hurled as high as the electric wire before falling to the ground some 15 feet away after he was struck by the speeding car around 06:40 hrs minutes. He had just left his residence on his way to work. He was standing on the corner of the road awaiting transportation when the speeding car swerved off the road and struck him down.
He was picked up in an unconscious condition and rushed to the New Amsterdam Hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival. He had sustained head injuries.
The driver, who told the court that he attends some technical institutions, was allegedly driving at a fast rate of speed. He was on his way to Moleson Creek to catch the MV Canawaima to drop off passengers who were heading to Suriname.
It is understood that the driver tried to overtake a vehicle. He realized late that he could not make it because a bus was almost upon him coming from the opposite direction. He tried to undertake the vehicle, but a car was parked there and in trying to avoid a collision with the car he swerved and slammed into Ramlakhan, who was standing on the reserved section of the road. The car then hit a lamp post and ended up into a trench.
The driver stated that he decided to choose that course of action to avoid a more serious accident. But residents stated that if

The driver – Ricardo Ramcharran Approo

the driver was more careful the accident could have been avoided.
Ramlakhan was married for five years and had no children. He leaves to mourn his wife, Kavita, parents, two sisters, one brother, other relatives and friends.
Ramcharran was placed on bail after the prosecution offered no objection. The matter will be called again on September 2, 2014. He was ordered to lodge his passport. He is to report to the Sparendaam Police station every Monday and Friday.