A mother of two drowned yesterday after the car she was being taught to drive plunged into the Hope Canal, East Coast Demerara.
According to reports, twenty-nine-year old, hairdresser Shanette Williams of Lot 1 Anns Grove, ECD was being taught to drive by her reputed husband Shevon Andrews. Sometime between 2:30pm and 3:00pm she lost control of the vehicle and it toppled into the canal.
Williams was pinned in the vehicle for a long time while Andrews managed to get out.
He tried to assist her but by the time she was pulled to safety it appeared that she had already died. She was rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital (GPH) where she was pronounced dead on arrival.
Andrews is assisting the police with their investigations.
Over at the GPH, pandemonium broke out as many inconsolable relatives gathered after receiving the news of Williams’ death.
Speaking to this newspaper at the hospital, a relative said that they received the dreadful news sometime around 3:15 pm. She said Williams was being taught to drive by Andrews and they were headed to an uncle’s home located in the neighbouring village, Hope where the tragedy occurred.
The distraught woman said that while at the scene they were informed by eyewitnesses that they noticed the vehicle veer off the roadway and topple into the canal. She said that after the vehicle toppled into the canal and ended upside down, persons in the vicinity immediately rushed to their assistance.
She said “After the car turn over in the trench the people nearby said that they went and try to help them and then she child father come out but when he was trying to get she out he had a hard time, but by the time he get she out she been already dead.”
When Stabroek News visited Williams’ home, her aged mother was too distraught to speak and was weeping inconsolably while many relatives and friends flocked the home singing her praises.
“She said that she and Shevon going on a drive and she left around 2:00 pm and then about an hour after somebody call we and tell we that Shanette get in an accident and she deh bad but when we go to the hospital she de already dead,” Williams’ cousin Jenesia Bristol recounted.
Williams was described as someone who was generous and cared for others. She leaves to mourn her two children, nine-year-old Devon Andrews and four-year-old, Devisha Andrews amongst other relatives.
