A Vriesland, West Bank Demerara (WBD) family is now mourning the loss of Khemawattie Mohabir, a mother of two, who was struck down by an alleged drunken driver a short distance from home on Christmas Eve, while returning from the market.
Mohabir, 27, called ‘Jenny’, of Lot 70 Vriesland, WBD was struck down on the Vriesland public road. The driver is in police custody and residents are calling on the authorities to erect speed bumps on the road to avoid another serious accident.
According to eyewitnesses, the incident occurred sometime after 2pm on December 24. Stabroek News was told that a speeding Green Toyota Spacio, which was heading south, hit Mohabir and dragged her for about 60 feet before she was pitched onto a neighbour’s sandy lawn. One resident said that seconds before, Mohabir had made a stop at a nearby beverage stand to purchase something to drink. “She two sons run up from she,” the woman recounted, adding “and as she was picking up she bag, the car slam into she.” Another resident, Jenny [only name given] told Stabroek News that she ran outside when she heard the impact and saw Mohabir sprawled on her lawn. “She eye look funny,” Jenny said even as she recounted that the unresponsive woman had no pulse when she rushed to Mohabir’s aid.
An angry villager said that the driver of the Spacio after hitting Mohabir stayed in his car for a minute before responding to calls for help by others who had rushed towards the motionless woman.
Reports suggest that the driver, who was identified as Khalil and who appeared to be intoxicated, subsequently transported Mohabir to the West Demerara Regional Hospital, where she was pronounced dead on arrival. He was then taken into police custody.
Angry villagers who had assembled when Stabroek News visited the community were outraged at the death. “He had three bottles of Absolut in he car,” one man shouted. “And he was drunk! Drunk! Drunk,” another exclaimed.
The residents called on the Regional Democratic Council to erect speed bumps along the WBD road in the community to inhibit the usual speeding which occurs.
Mohabir’s reputed husband Prakash Ramchand said that he was told that his wife mostly suffered internal injuries since no blood was seen on the road nor did she appear to have sustained major external wounds. There was only a bruise on her forehead and lacerations on her fingers and toes, Stabroek News was told. An emotional Ramchand expressed relief that the couple’s two sons, ages six and seven, had run ahead of their mother seconds before the impact.
The body is at the Ezekiel Funeral Home awaiting a post-mortem examination. (Dacia Whaul)
