-driver flees, held at roadblock
Two children were killed yesterday when a car slammed into them in a horrific accident on the Tuschen, East Bank Essequibo public road which saw the driver speeding away before being pursued and held at a police roadblock.
Amisha Alli, 10 and her cousin, Ricky Kumar, 12, were heading to the Tuschen Mosque along with two other relatives and their grandmother, Hamidan Haq, when the incident occurred at about 3:30 yesterday afternoon. Relatives said that they had been going to a seminar and the two died on the spot. Alli was decapitated while Kumar suffered head injuries and broken bones. The force with which they were hit saw them being pitched several metres away on the opposite side of the road.
The 21-year-old driver, identified as Mahendranauth Singh of Industry Housing Scheme, East Coast Demerara sped away and several villages away, hit and killed a dog at Meten-meer-Zorg, West Coast Demerara. But a police patrol pursued him and other law enforcement officials were alerted and a roadblock was set up at the Den Amstel police station. Singh was caught.
There were two passengers inside his vehicle and they are all in custody at the Leonora Police station. Police said that the passengers might have encouraged Singh to drive away.
A police source confirmed that Singh, who was heading in an eastern direction, was speeding and said that he had allegedly lost control of the vehicle, PLL 6744, when the children were hit. Charges are likely to be laid shortly.
Iejaz Azaaz, 9, was with his cousins said that they had already crossed to the northern side of the road and were in the corner when they were hit. They had been holding hands and Alli and Kumar were at the end of the line, he said. “He come with speed, slow brakes, hit she (Alli)…the man drive away and gone”, the lad said. Alli was his sister. Fidolph Persaud, 9, also witnessed the incident and was severely traumatized, relatives said.
Large numbers of relatives gathered at the Meten-meer-Zorg home of Haq when this newspaper visited. Alli’s mother Sabita Persaud and Kumar’s mother, Sunita Persaud were inconsolable. Alli’s father is in Barbados. Haq took care of the two deceased children, relatives told this newspaper.
She and Fidolph had gone to the hospital for a check-up and returned when this newspaper was at the home. The elderly woman collapsed and had to be carried inside by relatives. Relatives condemned the incident and said that justice must be served.
Alli attended the Islamic academy at Meten-meer-Zorg while Kumar did not go to school. Relatives were preparing for a wake when this newspaper left.
