A young Dazzell Housing Scheme mother died on Saturday night at the Enmore Junction when a car slammed into the rear of the vehicle she was travelling in.
The deceased Sunita Thomas, 31, her 30-year-old sister Samantha Clarke also of Dazzell Housing Scheme Paradise, East Coast Demerara (ECD) and two relatives from Brooklyn, New York, Elorne and Patrick Layne were driven out of the flooded housing scheme to get “some fresh air”, relatives said. Julian Culley, a family friend, was also in the vehicle.
The accident occurred at about 10.40 pm on Saturday, police said in a press statement yesterday. According to them, “investigations revealed that motor car PLL 1485 driven by Faraz Mohamed of Enmore and motor vehicle PKK 8288 driven by Patrick Layne of Paradise, East Coast Demerara were traveling in opposite directions along the road way.”
Further, the police said that Layne “turned across the road to enter an access road and collided with the other vehicle”. Both drivers were taken into custody and are assisting with investigations, the police said.
Reports are that the grey vehicle, PKK 8288, carrying the victims had just turned off the intersection when a white car slammed into its rear and sent it careening some 50 yards before it came to a rest.
This newspaper visited the junction shortly after 1 pm yesterday and was able to locate an eyewitness. The eyewitness, who requested anonymity, told Stabroek News that two vehicles including the one driven by Mohamed were going at a fast rate along the Enmore section of the ECD Public Road on Saturday night.
“…the grey vehicle with the five people in it was heading west along the public road and shortly after it turned onto a corner just off the junction,” the eyewitness said. “Just as the grey vehicle was about to make its way into the street one of the guys (driving) a white car slam into its rear.”
According to the eyewitness, the incident occurred at approximately 11pm. The impact sent PKK 8288 “flying” from the junction to the Estate Road which is approximately 50 yards away. Thomas, the eyewitness said, was pitched out of the vehicle upon impact.
Patrick Layne, the driver of PKK 8288, who had been taken into police custody for questioning was rushed to the GPHC for medical treatment early yesterday morning as well.
The surviving women are presently patients in Ward C1 of the Open Ward at the GPHC. Elorne Layne and Clarke sustained injuries to the neck, jaw and back while Culley sustained injuries to the neck and legs. They were up to late yesterday in serious condition.
The wrecked vehicles are presently lodged at the Cove and John Police Station. The entire front bumper of the white car PLL 1485 was dislodged while the rear and left passenger side of PKK 8288 sustained heavy damage.
A number of relatives were gathered at Thomas’ home when Stabroek News visited shortly after 11am yesterday. Lene Thomas, the deceased woman’s mother, said that the Laynes were due to fly home yesterday morning.
“They were on vacation,” Lene explained. “Saturday night was their last night and they just wanted to go out a little to get away from the floodwater and the smell a bit.”
The distressed mother told Stabroek News that the housing scheme has been flooded since Tuesday and while a few inches of water has receded it still leaves approximately 24 inches to deal with. According to the woman, the water was smelly and her relatives just wanted a little change of atmosphere so they took the vehicle and left.
“Sunita was a bright and funny young woman…she has a three-year-old son his name is Dantay Thomas,” another relative said. “The child knows nothing and we haven’t told those in the hospital as yet.”