A 25-year-old mother of four died on the spot when she was struck down by a car while attempting to cross the Providence Public Road around lunchtime yesterday.
Mary Sandy of Area A, Track C, Providence, and originally of Moruca, North West District, had only minutes before dropped off her four year old son at the Providence Primary School when she was struck down by the car PDD 9467. An eyewitness told Stabroek News that some cows were standing along the road shoulder, a short distance away from the National Stadium, when one of them walked into the path of the woman who was reportedly trekking along the eastern side of the road. She apparently tried to cross over to the western section of the road to avoid the cows, when she was hit by the car which was proceeding south along the busy public road. Following the impact, the eyewitness recalled, the woman was pitched into the air and landed a few yards away from the point of impact. She was picked up shortly after and taken to the Lyken’s Funeral home. The driver of the car was reportedly under the influence of alcohol at the time of the accident.
When this newspaper arrived on the scene a few shards of glass and a blue right side slipper were left close to the scene of the accident. Persons at the gas station recalled seeing the woman taking her children to school with her baby in her arms on a daily basis. A few persons had gathered at a shop located in front of the woman’s residence, opposite the National Stadium, as the owners of the property related the woman’s experiences prior to the accident.
The owner of the property told Stabroek News that the woman moved to the East Bank location about two years ago from Moruca. He said she was unemployed but worked as a domestic from time to time in the area. The man also related that the driver of the car and a few other persons were ‘drinking’ at his place of business prior to the accident.
As he was speaking to Stabroek News the woman’s husband, Mohan Geer, arrived shortly after taking his wife’s body to the funeral parlour and a heated argument ensued between him and his employer’s relatives as he tried to explain his whereabouts when the accident occurred. Geer said he was in front of the shop talking to his friends when his wife was struck down.
The man said he and his wife were not on speaking terms for a few days now and only yesterday he tried to ’patch things up‘ with her as he tried to speak to her. He said he is employed as a labourer at his current place of residence and worked hard to maintain his family. As the man was speaking, he was interrupted by his employer who said Geer should have been paying more interest to the welfare of his four sons. The man said Geer drinks a lot and ‘smokes weed’. Geer admitted that he uses illegal drugs but promised to change his lifestyle in the interest of his children.
Three of the man’s children, Andre, 4, Tyronne,3, and 2-year- old Anthony were going about their usual child-like routines as the exchanges were taking place. Members of the public offered comforting words to the three lads as their two-month-old baby brother, Andrew was being bottle-fed by a relative.
Their father showed members of the media the family’s one-bedroom shack located at the back of his employer‘s place of business. He said he is living under difficult circumstances and asked those around to try and understand his situation. A small fireside stood next to the structure as an unfriendly odour, emanating from a door-less pit latrine, located a few yards away, greeted anyone who approached the entrance of the man’s home. Use of the fireside left parts of the structure’s walls scorched and when questioned as to the safety of cooking so close to the house, the man said it was the best he could have done. He promised to take care of his children even as his employer related that Geer had been physically abusing his wife. Geer said he does not know if he abuses his wife since he may have been under the influence of alcohol when this occurs. It was suggested by some that this family is now in desperate need for help from welfare services.
Meanwhile, the car involved in the fatal accident is in the compound of the Providence Police station and the driver is in police custody. His relatives gathered at the Providence station with concerned looks on their faces as he was being grilled by police officers there.
This case, observers say, would have been another one ripe for testing of the breathalyzer law which President Bharrat Jagdeo signed into a law on May 22 at a ceremony at the Office of the President. It however appears that the police force is still to apply the new law.
