An eight-year-old student of the Number 56 Primary School lost his life yesterday afternoon after he was struck down by a car on the No 56 Village public road. He was pronounced dead at the Skeldon hospital.
Dead is Yoerindra Radhay of No 56 Village Corentyne, Berbice.
A police press release yesterday said that the child was hit by a car bearing registration number PPP 6164 which was allegedly speeding, and that the driver struck the boy who was walking along the road after he lost control of the vehicle.
The release went on to say that the driver was later found to be under the influence of alcohol.
A resident told this publication that nobody really saw what happened, and all she heard was a loud noise. “When I come out meh see a white car drive away… heading to Skeldon side… and then I see somebody trying to take the lil boy out of the drain,” she said.
When Stabroek News spoke to Yoerindra’s mother, Christina Radhay, she related that her son had gone to the shop to buy kerosene oil for his grandmother some time around 4pm. Her understanding was that her son had not reached the shop when tragedy struck.
Less than 5 minutes later she received a message about the accident from her nephew Heman, and running to the scene she saw her son lying on a neighbour’s bridge. “Then a bus stop and carry him to the Skeldon hospital,” she said; “he was not dead when I saw him.”
Radhay said that Dr Sharma tried to save her son’s life but was unable to do so; “from the time I saw I know hena would a mek it…” She said that her son sustained injuries to his back and head.
She described Yoerindra as a very helpful and quiet child. He was not badly behaved, she said, and he performed well at school.
The police said the driver fled the scene of the accident and was later arrested at his home. He is currently in police custody assisting with investigations.
Yoerindra Radhay leaves to mourn his parents, 11-year-old sister Kamla and 3-year-old brother Kavesh along with his grandmother and other family members and friends.