The road claimed a new victim on the evening of Tuesday, December 12. Gowtum Rampersad, aged 82, also known as Premchand was hit head-on by a 4×4 attached to the Ministry of Finance at Major Lane, La Paix, Piton. The victim who lives in this village did not survive his injuries.
It was around 8 p.m. on the evening of Tuesday, December 12 when this accident occurred. This road was well lit and dry. The victim was hit by this Mitsubishi vehicle.
The driver of this vehicle, who did not stop, went directly to the Piton police station.
A team of police officers immediately went to the accident site. They took the victim in their vehicle and took him to the northern hospital. The death of Gowtum Rampersad unfortunately had to be noted by the doctor in the emergency department.
The 52-year-old driver of the SUV, a resident of Forest Side, was given a breathalyzer test. This turned out to be negative. He was arrested and placed in a cell at the Piton police station.
The body of the victim was transported to the morgue of the Dr A.G. Jeetoo hospital in Port-Louis to be autopsied this Wednesday morning, December 13. She attributed his death to a skull fracture. The same day this driver at the Ministry of Finance was brought before the Pamplemousses court on a provisional charge of manslaughter. He was later released on bail.
The funeral of Gowtum Rampersad took place at 2:30 p.m. this Wednesday, December 13. He was subsequently cremated in Piton.
An investigation has been launched to shed light on the circumstances of this accident.
