Driver remanded following Williamsburg hit-and-run incident

A man who fled from the scene of an accident and remained in hiding for nine days has been recently remanded to prison.

Bhoadnaline Lackan, a 34-year-old resident of the Chesney Housing Scheme, Corentyne, Berbice, appeared before Magistrate Michelle Matthias at the Reliance Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday. He faced three charges.

The first charge alleges that on April 10, 2026, while operating motor vehicle PAH 8137 on Williamsburg Public Road, Lackan was involved in an incident that led to the injury of 35-year-old Mukesh Mathur.

Lackan was charged with failure to report the accident to a Police Station or Police Constable within 24 hours. He was additionally charged with failure to stop his vehicle following the accident, as well as failure to help Mathur.

The defendant entered a plea of not guilty to all three charges.

During the bail application, Attorney-at-Law Horatio Edmondson submitted to the court that his client was not a flight risk and would be available for all subsequent court proceedings. He further stated that Lackan was willing to lodge his passport and comply with any conditions set for bail.

Contrary to this, Police Prosecutor Corporal Meika Crawford objected to bail, asserting that Lackan fled the scene after the incident. The prosecutor noted that the victim was initially assisted by public-spirited citizens and taken to Port Mourant Public Hospital, then transferred to New Amsterdam Public Hospital.

Prosecutor Crawford informed the court that, following intelligence gathering, police visited Lackan’s residence and arrested him. It was also alleged that Lackan took the vehicle involved in the incident and repaired the damage.

After considering the submissions of both the prosecutor and the defense, Magistrate Matthias acknowledged the seriousness of the offence. She emphasised that repairing the vehicle constituted tampering with the investigation. The Magistrate also took into account Lackan’s flight after the incident and thus denied bail. The defendant was remanded to prison.

Following the Magistrate’s ruling, Lackan was observed to be emotional, briefly crying before regaining composure while being escorted out of the courtroom to be remanded.

The case was adjourned to May 12 and transferred to the Albion Magistrate’s Court for further proceedings.

In a statement, Police had said that Mathur of Clifton Settlement, Corentyne, Berbice, was riding motorcycle CS 1063 westbound along the southern drive lane at a fast rate when a white motor car, PAH 8137, driven by  Lackan, made a sudden right turn into his path. The collision resulted in Mathur being thrown off his motorcycle and sustaining injuries.

Lackan fled the scene immediately after the crash. Mathur was quickly assisted by public-spirited citizens and transported to Port Mourant Public Hospital, where he was treated for a fractured right arm and a fractured left leg. He was later transferred to New Amsterdam Public Hospital for further care.

Then, on April 20, Police acted on credible intelligence and located Lackan at his residence. He did not deny his involvement. He was arrested and taken to the Rose Hall Town Police Station.

The vehicle, which Lackan had repaired himself by replacing both left-side doors and the wing mirror, was also seized.

Mathur remains hospitalised, but his condition is stable.

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