Atlantic Gardens accident victim never regained consciousness

– relatives displeased with police investigation

Almost three weeks after sustaining multiple injuries during a road accident Bibi Nisha Alli died at the Georgetown Public Hospital (GPH) without ever regaining consciousness.

Dead: Bibi Nisha Alli
Dead: Bibi Nisha Alli

Alli, 48, of Atlantic Gardens, East Coast Demerara was making her way home on the night of June 10 when she was struck down by a route 44 minibus. The woman rushed to GPH by the minibus driver and admitted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) in an unconscious state.

Last Friday, after clinging to life for almost three weeks, Alli succumbed to her injuries. Alli was laid to rest on Tuesday. Her daughter, Selema John, told Stabroek News that her mother never regained consciousness.

“Since she was hit by the bus she was unconscious and she never came out of it… we never spoke again,” John said.

Relatives said that they had learnt from an eyewitness that Alli was crossing the Public Road at Atlantic Gardens. The minibus was heading west along the northern carriage way (towards Georgetown). The minibus, according to reports, was overtaking another vehicle when it hit Alli.

Alli’s right leg was shattered, her left leg broken, the left side of her face was completely damaged and her nose and cheekbone broken. She also suffered several abrasions about the body. Several days after being hospitalized Alli’s right leg was amputated from the knee.

The eyewitness, John said, had reported that when the minibus slammed into Alli she was thrown in the air before collapsing in a heap on the road. The vehicle came to a halt several yards from the point of impact, John explained.

Police have been investigating the matter but Alli’s relatives do not feel that they are treating the matter with the seriousness it demands. The investigating officer, John told this newspaper, explained that at the time of the incident the minibus driver did not have his driver’s licence with him. This, John explained, was described as a “minor charge” by the investigating officer and relatives have been advised to “settle” the matter out of court.

“We don’t believe this is a minor matter,” John stated. “My mother is no longer here because of his driving habits…the police are not treating this matter a seriously as it should be treated and we plan to pursue the matter further….”

Alli’s relatives said that they were further advised by the investigating officer that the speed limit has been changed for the stretch of road on which the accident occurred. However, John said she does not comprehend what the accident that resulted in her mother’s death has to do with the change in speed limit. The speed limit, John opined, should not have been increased. The former speed limit of 48 kilometers (km) has been recently increased to 80km.

“Even if the speed limit has been changed on that road it has nothing to do with my mother’s accident,” John said. “If the matter were in court then the speed limit at the time of the accident would be taken into consideration. I don’t know why they even increased the speed limit on this road because many accidents were already occurring with the old one.”

Several efforts made to contact the officer in charge of ‘C’ Division for comment on the matter were futile. The minibus driver has not yet been charged. Meanwhile, the deceased woman’s relatives indicated that the minibus driver has indicated to them that he “is sorry” and wishes to settle the matter.

“We haven’t met him in person but he is asking us to feel sorry for him because he has a one-year-old and three-year-old,” John said.