By Shuntel Glasgow
The policewoman who died on Thursday when a drunk driver rammed into traffic cones and hit her had only recently gotten married.
The Guyana Police Force is mourning the death of Woman Constable 25953 Annette Abel, a 53-year-old mother of three and of Lot 64 Perth Village, Mahaicony, and said to be attached to the station’s Traffic Department.
According to a police report, the accident outside the Beterverwagting Police Station involved motor jeep PVV 8278 driven by a 44-year-old man from Front Road, East Ruimveldt, Georgetown whose occupants included a 46-year-old female of ‘A’ Field South Sophia and a 75-year-old male from East Ruimveldt, Georgetown.
According to a police investigation, at about 22:00hrs on Thursday, a roadblock was being commanded by Woman Inspector Shenay Castello, who is also Inspector in Charge of the Beterverwagting Police Station. She was assisted by Corporal 21289 Keshan Collins, Lance Corporal 21463 Jenella Jonas, Constable 25925 Abel, Constable 25124 Brian Tappin and Constable 24718 Wayne Daniels.
The police report revealed that Constable Abel stopped motor cars, PAB 9932 (driven by a 30-year-old of Buxton, East Coast Demerara) and PNN 8124 (driven by a 24-year-old of North Better Hope, East Coast Demerara), which were proceeding west on the southern driving lane of the southern carriageway. Both vehicles pulled left and were stationary when a motor Jeep, PVV 8278, was observed proceeding in the same direction and lane at a fast rate. The vehicle approached the traffic light signal situated at the junction of Republic Drive, Beterverwagting and the East Coast Highway. At the time, the traffic signal was showing red in the direction of PVV 8278 but the driver drove through the red-light signal, colliding with the traffic cones which were at the centre of the road as part of the roadblock operation.
PVV 8278 which apparently had lost control, rammed Constable Abel into motor car PAB 9932 which then collided with motor car PNN 8124. Vehicle PNN 8124 then spun hitting Inspector Castello. Castello and a driver, Chris Allen, were all flung into the air. Abel, who was also flung in the air, landed about 20 feet away on the road surface with her left foot from below the knee severed. Inspector Castello and Allen landed on the southern grass parapet with both sustaining injuries about their bodies. Meanwhile, PVV 8278 turned over on the southern parapet. The Emergency Medical Technicians were summoned and Constable Abel was pronounced dead at the scene. The occupants of PVV 8278 also suffered injuries, and along with Inspector Castello, were escorted to the Georgetown Public Hospital Accident and Emergency Unit where they are receiving medical attention.
Meanwhile, Stabroek News spoke with the late Constable Abel’s niece, Onicka Goodluck, who said that the family is now traumatized and saddened by Abel’s tragic death. Abel was described as a disciplined and family oriented person who got married a few weeks ago and had great plans for the Christmas. The bereaved niece related that her aunt was a mother figure in her life. Goodluck related that Abel had booked her nail appointment with her niece and daughter for Friday. Goodluck recounted that she saw the accident on her phone but did not realise that her aunt was involved. Abel’s family explained that their emotions cannot be expressed in words as Abel suffered a gruesome death.
Abel’s body was escorted to Memorial Gardens Funeral Home where it is awaiting a Post-Mortem Examination. The scene was visited by Regional Commander 4‘C’ Assistant Commissioner Khali Pareshram and a team of police ranks. The driver of PPV 8278 was taken into custody as investigations continue.
