Cyclist seriously injured by suspect drunk driver
(CNS): A cyclist was seriously injured Thursday evening in a collision with a vehicle near to the Butterfield Roundabout on the Esterley Tibbetts Highway in George Town in which a suspected drunk driver ended up in a five-car smash. Police were called to the scene at about 5:30pm yesterday and found that the driver who struck the cyclist went on to hit four other vehicles. The 52-year-old woman from West Bay was arrested on suspicion of DUI and is currently on police bail. The cyclist is being treated for serious but non-life-threatening injuries at the George Town hospital.
Police are again reminding the public about the dangers of driving under the influence, and will continue to have strong presence on the roads going into the long weekend.
“We are taking a zero tolerance approach to drinking and driving,” said Inspector Ian Yearwood of the Traffic Management Unit. “As the collision yesterday demonstrates, it is often not the driver but others on the road who end up paying the price for this behaviour.”
Police reported that four other arrests were made yesterday (9 November) on the roads for driving related offenses, including two others for DUI, one for careless driving and one for dangerous driving.
A further result of the rare enforcement of traffic law for the last decades. I was just thinking the other day why there is no police during rush hour when traffic is bumper to bumper. It would be easy for them to walk around and spot those without a properly installed license plate, expired stickers, dark tinted windows etc. It really is sad cause there are so many ways they could demonstrate police presence but it takes willingness to get the job done.
People in Cayman seem to think that it is their god given right to drink and drive. If the police parked themselves outside of Royal Palms on a Sunday afternoon, they would literally need a bus to bring all of the people being done for DUI to the police station!
I know two people who ended up being let off of a DUI because they knew the police officer who pulled them over. One of them made a deal with the police officer, if she took him home and made him a cake that would be sufficient! I also know of an ex-police officer who drives home after a night of drinking.
There needs to be a ZERO tolerance message being put out there. Drinking & driving is one of the most selfish acts as a driver that you can do. It is right up there with using your cell phone – but then again, that is hardly being adhered to either. I saw a woman the other day driving an SUV with a baby on board sticker on her car, texting on her phone! Can you imagine if the shoe was on the other foot and I refer ended her with her kids in the kid? She would have been mother bear all over my back side!
There are hundreds of people who are habitualised to “literally” drink and drive, hurling their empty bottles out of the driver windows into medians and surrounding landscape. These littered cans and bottles are everywhere and should serve to demonstrate how bad things are.
It’s disgraceful how many people on this island drink and drive. It seems to be a culture that has been accepted for decades. The deaths, mostly young, have been a result of this leisurely activity. If you drink or foolishly take drugs DO NOT drive and endanger other people’s lives. Your thinking and actions are impaired. Try driving behind someone whose been drinking. You will see their vehicle waivering over the road. They think they are ok to drive but death is looking at them in the face!
Get a BUS, get a TAXI or get PICKED UP!!
This is why we need to get the old Traffic Dept. back to patrol and pick up these violators, because that’s what they are. Traffic Dept. of RCIPS is the busiest department. Please Comm., Byrne consider this. I know the dire need for this because I was a Traffic Officer in RCIPS. Hopefully, the next recruitment drive will be successful and the increase of Officers will allow this over stretched Force to implement this much needed department.
We are taking a zero tolerance approach to drinking and driving, what time and when ?
Gas stations selling liquor now. So I expect this will be the norm once you are over the age of 18 and is the owner of a valid drivers license. This is progress right? Wait until the population 100;000
Liquor stores sell liquor too. How do you think peoples get to them? Nothing to do with gas stations…
Couple of Roadies never hurt.
Everyone drinks and drives here. Police “urge” people not to. Suggesting people don’t do it isn’t going to make them stop. Thanks for the recommendation though coppers. Nobody listening cause nobody stopping us.
That roundabout is merciless…
Since a roundabout is an inanimate object how can it possibly be “merciless”. Some users have no sense and use them badly and in a merciless fashion. That I can agree with. Of course being under the influence just adds to the lack of mercy shown when driving…..
is it just me or is it a significantly high number of women over this past year who have been arrested for DUI? Equal rights I guess.
The world has gone to crap since we gave woman equal rights.
You would be a great candidate for the little terrorist punks running around like ISIS.
Lol. Hilarious
That roundabout is every man for themself during the busy times. Cant imagine trying to navigate that while intoxicated.
Hope everyone is fine.
It’s not that hard… If you see 3 lanes where there should be one just try and drive down the middle one.
When will the powers that be change the alcohol limit here? Seems like you from time you are 12 years old, you can drink and drive. this place needs a no tolerance approach, the popo, lawyers, barkeeps and so on dont care about dui as its good for economics
Blame everyone but the drunk. They are all probably Ex pats anyway.
Yes the drunk driver was irresponsible. But drinking and driving has been institutionalised here for so many decades without any intervention by the police, that everyone seems to think it’s OK, and everyone knows that there is only a minute possibility that they will get caught, so they carry on regardless. If the police were doing their jobs over all this time people wouldn’t take the risks they do now.
Fix the corrupt taxi services and more people will use them. Someone tried to charge me 80kyd to go from westin to town becuase i had 3 people with me.. i mean we’re going to the same place ffs
Even if the Taxi ride was $1000, it still wouldn’t justify driving drunk and risking killing someone or yourself.
Yes, because Caymanians don’t drink & drink!!!
If its already suspected (assumed) drunk driving what would tighter laws do? Make it even more likely to be drunk driving?