An accident along the West Coast Berbice Public Road yesterday afternoon has left one seven-year-old child dead and his mother, sister and several neighbours hospitalised.
Dead is Nirfan Nezamdeen, 7, a student of the Lachmansingh Primary School and of Lot 169 Section C, Bush Lot Village, West Coast Berbice.
According to information gathered, a total of four children and two female adults were injured in the accident which occurred along the Bush Lot Public Road, directly opposite Pagoo Street at around 4 pm.
Commander of Region Five Yonette Stephens told Stabroek News that three persons, two adult females and one child, have been transferred to the Georgetown Public Hospital, while two students were kept for observation at the Fort Wellington Public Hospital.
She also confirmed that the driver of the car is in police custody and an investigation has been launched.
According to a neighbour of the injured persons, Nezamdeen’s mother, Ameena Diaram, 25, her daughter Aasiyah Nezamdeen, 8, and their neighbour, Parbattie Koblall also known as ‘Cindy’, 49, were all transferred to the Georgetown Public Hospital last evening.
Koblall’s daughter, Taheilla Koblall, 8, and another neighbour, Aiyana, 8, both of whom attend the Lachmansingh Primary School, were kept at the Fort Wellington Public Hospital for observation.
Stabroek News was told that the two female adults were returning home after collecting their children, along with Aiyana, from school when the car, PPP 7721, which was heading to New Amsterdam, slammed into them. The car then toppled into a nearby trench where it pinned Nirfan.
Public-spirited persons rushed to the scene to offer assistance and removed the lad by removing the front bumper of the car, since he was reportedly trapped under it.
The village of Bush Lot was left in shock last evening as residents could not believe what had transpired.
According to one neighbour, when they rushed to the scene, several of the injured persons were unconscious. However, Stabroek News confirmed last evening that all of the injured persons had regained consciousness.
Relatives of Diaram were making attempts to contact her husband who works in the interior, this newspaper was told.
