By Youssef El Kaidi
Morocco World News
Fez, May 30, 2013
The city of Marrakech was shaken by the tragic death of young Mehdi Bouzidi, 27 years old, after being hit by a neurologist who was driving while drunk.
It’s not the first time that victims of all ages have fallen under the speedy roaring cars of reckless drunk drivers in Morocco. Unfortunately, the tragedy sporadically occurs hither and thither as a result of the irresponsibility, indifference, and recklessness of drivers and the lack of effective law enforcement from the part of the state.
The city of Marrakech was the stage of a woeful accident last Friday morning, May 24, when Mehdi Bouzidi was on his bike unaware that he was cycling to his final destiny and that the hands expected to save lives would be the cause of his death!
It was on Abou Bakr Seddik street where Mehdi was hit by a car whose driver, according to witnesses, was drunk. Right after the tragedy, the driver fled the scene leaving the young man writhing in his blood, not even bothering to give him first aid. Ironically, the driver turned to be a neurologist named A. Mansouri who previously worked in the military hospital of Marrakech.
Severely hit in the head, young Mehdi’s life reached its last minute at the Ibn Toufail Hospital in Marrakech. The funeral took place on Saturday morning and Mehdi was taken to his final resting place in an atmosphere of great sadness.
According to the latest information reported by Al-Akhbar news website, the driver has been hospitalized in a clinic in the city for hypertension. The prosecutor decided last Sunday to put the neurologist under temporary custody in his room in the clinic, waiting to make an arrest once he recovers.
On the other hand, several members of the family of the young Mehdi and his friends and relatives went to the scene of the accident, equipped with patience, tears and flowers, and protested for justice. A petition was launched Wednesday for a “fair and impartial investigation into the accident of Mehdi Bouzidi.”
The petition denounces the fact that the person in charge of the accident and the death of Mehdi is still “free” after he managed to delay the legal proceedings. This “man,” after the death of Mehdi, “seems to have found refuge in a care facility in Marrakech to create an alibi,” says the petition. The petitioners view the delaying of the legal proceedings against the driver as a “matter of corruption.” They have asked for a fair and impartial investigation so that the bereaved can feel justice.