A Vincentian national has been arrested and charged in connection with a collision that left national cyclist Tahje Browne seriously injured on Sir Sydney Walling Highway. According to Antigua News Room, Kishroy Harry was detained at V.C. Bird International Airport on Sunday while allegedly attempting to leave Antigua and Barbuda following the June 20 incident.
Harry faces four charges arising from the crash: dangerous driving, driving without the owner's consent, driving without a valid driver's licence, and driving without insurance coverage.
Police allege that Harry was operating a Toyota Vitz when it struck Browne near the Antigua and Barbuda Transport Board as the cyclist travelled along the highway. Investigators further allege that Harry disposed of clothing he had been wearing at the time of the incident before making his attempt to leave the country. He was stopped at the airport and subsequently arrested and charged. He is expected to appear before the Magistrate's Court on Wednesday.
Video footage of the collision has since circulated widely on social media.
Prior to Harry's arrest, Prime Minister Gaston Browne had publicly urged the driver to surrender to law enforcement, describing the alleged decision to flee the scene as "extremely unfortunate." Speaking on the Browne and Browne radio programme on Saturday, the Prime Minister said Browne was fortunate to have survived the crash.
"Our best cyclist got hit by a vehicle this morning," the Prime Minister said, adding that Browne was "lucky to be alive" based on accounts of how the collision unfolded. He noted that initial reports indicated the injuries were not life-threatening.
Browne was direct in his criticism of the motorist's alleged conduct after the crash. "It is extremely unfortunate though that that person would have left the scene," he said. "That was definitely very cruel of that individual and that person needs to present himself to law enforcement."
The Prime Minister also used the incident to renew calls for responsible driving, warning that reckless behaviour and speeding place lives at serious risk.
