COPS HUNT ‘BEAST’ IN HIT AND RUN

NORTHERN Division police were up to late evening hunting for a man they referred to as “a beast” in connection with yesterday’s road fatality which claimed the life of a 62-year-old newspaper vendor. The police labelled the driver a beast because not only did he refuse to stop after striking Ramdeo Surujbally, but he dragged Surujbally for close to 150 yards before pushing the victim off the bonnet of what police believe is a grey B13 Nissan Sentra vehicle. That’s not all, senior police officers said.  While the car was in motion, occupants of the vehicle were seen pushing their hands out trying to push Surujbally off the bonnet. “That’s as brutish as the society can get,” a police source stated categorically, appealing to members of the public to contact the Crime Stoppers, Emergency-999, or the St Joseph Police Station if they have any information that could lead to a posible arrest and conviction.

Reports are that around 5.30am Surujbally, father of four, of Seventh Avenue, Malick, Barataria, was plying his trade at the corner of the intersection at the Churchill Roosevelt Highway and the Uriah Butler Highway. A vehicle, according to police coming from South and heading in a westerly direction, reportedly was overtaking on the shoulder and struck Surujbally. Surjubally flew into the air and landed on the vehicle’s bonnet. The car drove him for about 150 yards before pushing him off at the San Juan River Bridge.  The driver continued on his “merry way,” a senior officer said. Sr Supt Farouk Ghany who was at the time heading to work, saw the accident and placed Surujbally into a vehicle, which transported the victim to the Mount Hope Medical Sciences Complex. Surujbally was pronounced dead on arrival.  “It’s a serious thing and we need help,” Ghany said. Assistant Commissioner of Police (East) Deochan Gosine also appealed to the public for assistance. Sgt Ignacio of the St Joseph Police Station is continuing investigations.