Autopsies performed yesterday on the remains of the Mahaicony teacher and her six students, whose lifeless bodies were pulled from a car in a canal last Friday, revealed that they all drowned.
Teacher Shaundel Duke, 41, and six of her students, who were all residents of Burma, Mahaicony, were found in a vehicle that was overturned in a trench and they were all subsequently pronounced dead on arrival at the Mahaicony Cottage Hospital. Duke, who was driving the vehicle,
was transporting 10-year-old Asiyah Abel, her eight-year-old brother, Joel Justin Abel, their seven-year-old cousin Rayden Abel, nine-year-old Atesha Woolford, her six-year-old sister, Azaliah Fraser, and their friend, seven-year-old Martina Persaud, from a Mashramani activity at Calcutta, Mahaicony.
Mother of the Abel children, Roberta Abel, told Stabroek News that the autopsies were performed yesterday on the seven and the cause of death in all cases was given as drowning.
She said the state has pledged to contribute financially to the wake and funeral for the dead and that that today an official of government will be visiting to discuss what arrangements should be put in place.
The police have stated that it is suspected that Duke lost control of the vehicle. It would appear that they were in the submerged vehicle for some time before it was spotted by a passerby, who alerted residents.
What caused the vehicle to end up overturned in the trench may never be known. However, Burma resident Lakeram Basdeo, who lives a short distance away from where the accident occurred, had told Stabroek News that while no one can be sure of what actually happened, Duke might have skidded off the road, which has loose brick fragments. Also possible, he said, is that the car might have suffered some mechanical defect or Duke may have been tired.
