(Kaieteur News) – An elderly Cuban national identified as 65-year-old Gerardo Machado Valdivia, lost his life in an accident on the new Demerara River Bridge on Wednesday.

Police have launched an investigation into the incident which occurred about 06:42hrs. The “motor car #PAG 6631, driven by a 22-year-old male of Hague Front, West Coast Demerara; motor car #PAM 2461, driven by a 28-year-old female of Recht-Door-Zee, West Bank Demerara and motor hire car #HC 723, driven by a 54-year-old male of Onderneeming, West Bank Demerara,” police said in a statement.

It was revealed during initial enquiries that that motor car #PAG 6631 was headed west along the southern lane of the southern carriageway when the pedestrian reportedly made attempts to cross the road from south to north. It was also reported that the driver reportedly applied brakes, swerving to avoid a collision but despite his efforts the right side of the front of the car still collided with Valdivia.