A hit and run accident on the La Belle Alliance Public Road, Essequibo Coast, on Wednesday night left a teenaged boy dead and two other persons injured.
Dead is 16-year-old Manlick Matthews, also called ‘Jimo,’ of 15 Henry Street, Danielstown Village, Essequibo Coast, while injured are Lennox Marks and ‘Sciffy’ (only name given).
The fatal accident took place while the three were returning home after attending Mashramani celebrations at the Anna Regina Car Park.
Speaking with Stabroek News at the home of the deceased, Marks, who is his cousin, said they were returning home on a bicycle around 11pm, when they were hit from behind by a speeding car. Marks, still in pain, said he and his cousin Matthews were on the bicycle and ‘Sciffy’ was walking alongside them when the car hit them. “I jump off the bicycle, but ‘Jimo’ couldn’t make it in time,” he explained.
He said the impact of the collision threw Matthews several feet into the air before he landed on the ground and hit his head on the roadway. Meanwhile, ‘Sciffy’ was thrown into a nearby drain and his head was stuck in the mud. “Ah call on de car driver fuh help, but he keep on going,” Marks noted.
He said he started to shout for help but no one came out to their assistance. He eventually hired a passing car to take him to Matthews’ parents to notify them of the accident and he left his cousin and friend on the road.
Matthews’ sister Shellon said she was looking at a programme on television when she heard Marks calling for the family. He informed that her brother was involved in an accident and the family immediately went to the scene. By then, the injured had already been taken to the Police Station, from where they were rushed to the Suddie Public Hospital. Matthews, however, was pronounced dead on arrival.
Commander of ‘G’ Division Brian Joseph said yesterday that police are still looking for leads into the incident.
Matthews is survived by three brothers and four sisters. His body is at the Suddie Funeral Parlour, awaiting a post-mortem examination.
