The family of Policeman Carl Roach has accepted a $5 million settlement from the driver of a motor car who was on trial for causing Roach’s death in an accident at Brickdam, Georgetown on November 25, 2019.
This led to the prosecution withdrawing the charge against 36-year-old Towanda Clarke on Tuesday when she appeared before Senior Magistrate Leron Daly at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts.
Confirming that a settlement was agreed to was the woman’s lawyer, Dexter Smartt. In November 2019, Clarke was charged with causing death by dangerous driving.
The charge had stated that on the day in question, she drove motor car PMM 2528 in a manner dangerous to the public, thereby causing the death of Roach. After her not-guilty plea, Clarke was released on $700,000 bail pending the hearing and determination of her trial. Her driver’s licence had also been suspended.
At the time of the accident, Clarke was a Corporate Secretary attached to the National Agricultural Research and Extension Institute (NAREI) and was residing at Lot 1919 Norton and Haley Streets, Wortmanville, Georgetown.
Reports are that on the day in question, Clarke was driving the motor car east along the northern side of the Brickdam Public Road. However, she failed to stop at Chalmers Place and swiftly turned south, colliding with Roach who was on motorcycle CH 9436 which was proceeding west along the southern side of the road.
The court heard that Roach was thrown 150 feet from the point of collision and landed on the road, which resulted in him receiving multiple injuries. He was pronounced dead on arrival at the Georgetown Public Hospital.
