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Policeman gives eye witness account of accident

by Barbados Today
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An off-duty police officer said he witnessed a collision between a motorcyclist and a pedestrian, as a death by dangerous driving trial commenced today.

Shawayne Deshawn Williams, 25, No. 16, Main Avenue, Eden Lodge, St Michael is accused of causing the death of Samuel Clarke, 68, by dangerous driving on June 22, 2015. The incident occurred along Bank Hall Main Road.

Police Sergeant Wayne Hinds, who is attached to the firearms and explosives department at Police Headquarters, Roebuck Street, was the prosecution’s first witness.

He recalled that around 9:45 a.m., he was travelling in a private vehicle and went past the stop lights at Bank Hall crossroad when he saw a pedestrian attempting to cross the road. He said the man took “two steps” in the road and was struck by a motorcyclist. That cyclist had overtaken Hinds’ vehicle and two others before the collision occurred, according to the witness.

The off duty officer parked the vehicle, walked to the scene of collision and saw the elderly pedestrian lying in the road with a number of injuries. He was being assisted by someone. The motorcyclist was seen sitting in the middle of the road being assisted by “a young lady”. He too had injuries including to his head. His pillion rider was also speaking to him.

Hinds said he was calling the District “A” Police Station, when he saw the pillion rider trying to start the motorcycle. It didn’t start. He pushed the motorcycle through a gap and disappeared.

Sergeant Ian Maynard then arrived at the scene.

During further questioning, Hinds revealed that two cars were in front of him, the road was dry and visibility was good.  He said he was about 100 metres away from the collision and though two cars were in front of him, he still had a clear view.

Angella Mitchell-Gittens, who is representing Williams, asked Sergeant Hinds in cross examination whether the road was clear when the motorcycle overtook him and the other two vehicles. He replied yes. Hinds agreed that when the collision occurred the motorcycle was travelling “on its left and proper side”.

“Am I correct in saying that the pedestrian walked in the path of the motorcycle?” Mitchell-Gittens asked Hinds. He answered “yes”.

During re-examination, Davis asked the police witness what he meant by “the pedestrian walked into the path of the road” and he said “he was attempting to cross the road”.

Sergeant Maynard of the Traffic Department at District “A” Police Station was accompanied to the scene by another police constable. Sergeant Maynard saw a man laying in the gutter near Chad’s Plaza and proceeded to have a conversation with Hinds.

Today, on the stand, Maynard said he made a statement, based on his police notebook notes, in respect of the matter. When asked what happened to his police notebook where he made notes about the matter, the sergeant said he could not find it.

However, according to him, Williams had bruises to the left side of his face, hands and feet and his head was swollen. Medical attention was sought and he was taken to Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH).

The officer said he spoke to Williams about his injuries and he said he was in an accident, “struck a man” and “fell from his motorcycle”.

During a police interview, Maynard said Williams was asked to explain how the accident happened but he said he could not recall because of the injuries to his head.

The accused also could not remember what happened to the motorcycle and did not know who owned it. The motorcycle was recovered and Williams placed his initials on it and said: “That look like de motorcycle we did riding,” said Maynard.

Williams indicated that he knew the pillion rider and gave police a nickname for him but told officers he did not know where he lived. He refused to give a statement when asked.

Mitchell- Gittens asked if Williams spoke to any eye witnesses and he said “no”.

He, however, said he spoke to the accident re-constructionist and was not sure who made the decision to charge Williams.

Three civilian witnesses and the accident re-constructionist are expected to give evidence over the next two days in the case being heard in the No. 2 Supreme Court before Justice Randall Worrell.

The case continues tomorrow at 9:45 a.m. Senior Crown Counsel Olivia Davis appears for the Crown.

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