The East Canje Berbice fire officer who was placed on $100,000 bail after she was charged with driving under the influence during a fatal accident on the Cumberland Public Road in December, is yet to face any additional charges as police are continuing to wait for advice.
The two families whose children were killed and injured in the accident are now trying to put the pieces back together but are finding it extremely difficult to do so.
Commander of Region Six, Shivpersaud Bacchus yesterday afternoon noted once more that the file was sent for advice and they are waiting on same. He added, that the media will be informed once the file is returned.
Last month, firewoman, Chandani Mohabir, also known as ‘Sonie’, 28, was driving a car while allegedly intoxicated and slammed into an oncoming motorcycle. Two-year-old, Jasmine Ross, died and her father, Marley Ross, was injured.
The two-year-old’s mother, Jamasie Carmichael, 28, of Angoy’s Avenue, was in an emotional state yesterday as she is still coming to terms with the death of her youngest child.
She said yesterday was the first day since the accident that she saw Mohabir as they were all invited by the police to visit the scene of the accident to “chalk out the road.”
According to Carmichael, “After the accident when she (Mohabir) called me after I sent her a voice note saying everything I had to say she (Mohabir) said with her own mouth that she was drunk and blank out and that she had to spin over the road to save the children in her car and she hit my child father then.”
However, Carmichael said, yesterday at the scene of the accident, Mohabir changed her side of the story now and is now claiming that Ross collided with her.
Ross, who previously worked in the interior, is now in a wheelchair. According to Carmichael, the man had to undergo surgeries to have steel placed in both his broken leg and hand.
The woman said, that she is finding it very difficult to get by and is just trying to make do with whatever she has. She noted, that her eldest child, 5, has since been unable to start school due to the situation. She can be contacted on telephone number 690 3175.
Very hurt
She pleaded with the police to file additional charges against the driver and have the court process started. “I am very hurt, I feel bad about it, $100,000 (bail), and she out of there.”
A tearful Carmichael described Ross as a very loving child. “How I’m sad here she wouldn’t have moved till I smile… She was very smart, I use to say like she born before.”
On December 23, Mohabir who is stationed at the New Amsterdam Fire Station was driving motor car PGG 278 with occupants Shaniya Blair, 5; Shavine Laundry, 11; Shaveh Laundry, 10; and Javeer Blair, 8.
She lost control of the vehicle and struck motorcycle MR-1 which was being ridden by Marley Ross, 29, with the now deceased Jasmine Ross, 2, of Angoy’s Avenue, New Amsterdam, as the pillion rider.
All of the occupants of the car and Ross were rushed to the New Amsterdam Public Hospital. Jasmine was pronounced dead on arrival, while Marley Ross, Javeer Blair, and Shavine Laundry were later transferred to the Georgetown Public Hospital.
Following the accident, a breathalyzer test revealed that Mohabir’s blood alcohol level was .45 micrograms.
She has since been charged with driving a motor vehicle while her breath alcohol level exceeded the prescribed limit.
She pleaded not guilty to the charge and was placed on $100,000 bail.
The mother of the children who were in Mohabir’s car, Sharon Mc Donald, 32, of Canefield, East Canje Berbice, explained that Mohabir resided next to her.
According to her, on the day of the accident, the children were on her bridge when Mohabir stopped with the car and told them to “jump in that she taking them at the Chine supermarket right on the road here to buy things for them.”
Carmichael said, she was inside and the children’s father who does not live with them was on the road at the time, “and he ask she where she taking them and she said right at the shop (which is located at the head of their street.)”
Not to panic
Mc Donald, said about forty-five minutes later she received a call from Mohabir telling her not to panic “that they meet up in an accident that me son unconscious and me daughter dead.”
The woman then rushed over to the New Amsterdam Public Hospital where she was informed that her daughter did not die but was on a life support machine while her son remained unconscious at that time.
According to the woman, Shavine Laundry suffered major head injuries while Javeer Blair sustained a fractured skull. While both have since been released from the Georgetown Public Hospital, they have to return weekly to attend clinic – a cost their mother cannot afford at this time. “Shavine (a first form student) na talk, she now trying to balance her weight, she using pampers, she kind of flighty sometimes, things she never do she doing.”
McDonald noted, that Shaniya Blair suffered a knee injury while Shaveh remains traumatized.
The woman stressed, that she is finding it extremely difficult to get by. “I does do domestic work for a living and I don’t have no one there to help me… I does do it to make sure they have an education and have meals on the table but now I’m not getting to work.”
She said, in order to take her children to the clinic on Monday she sought help from her friends but is unsure how she will afford the other expenses. “Right now it’s real tough, neighbours bring somethings and I’m trying but otherwise it real tough.”
McDonald stressed, that Mohabir visited her once since the accident but did not offer any type of assistance despite being aware of their circumstances.
Meanwhile, McDonald is pleading with the general public for assistance as she noted that her landlord has since given her notice to vacate the premises before the end of the month since she would not be able to keep up with the upcoming rent. She can be contacted on telephone numbers 609 8703 or 327 2024.
