After 16 days of being on and off a life support machine, 46-year-old Lilowtie Persaud who was knocked down in an accident late last month yesterday succumbed to her injuries in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of the Georgetown Public Hospital (GPH).

Lilowtie Persaud

When Stabroek News visited the woman’s 194 Fourth Street, Alexander Village home last evening, relatives and friends had assembled for a wake.

According to Shoundell Bhandoo, the woman’s sister, Persaud died while still attached to the life support machine at approximately 11:06 am yesterday.

In tears, the inconsolable sister said that she is hurt by the fact that the 16-year-old who was the driver of the car that hit her sister down had been released from custody on bail. “It really hard fuh know that he knock down me sister, now mek she dead an he out on bail,” she said. The sister said that she hopes more would be done by the relevant authorities to ensure that justice is served now that her sister has lost her life, the life she was fighting so desperately to keep 16 days ago.

She said also that contrary to what was reported in some sections of the media, her sister was not mentally ill and was indeed paralysed from her neck down as a result of the accident, a claim she said that some wanted to deny.

Bhandoo described her sister as a fun loving person with a pleasant personality who got along well with persons.

Bhandoo said that a post-mortem examination is expected to be performed today while the cremation is set for Sunday.

Persaud was struck down by a 16-year-old unlicensed driver. She had suffered severe head injuries following the accident which had crippled her from her neck down.

The teen driver has since been placed before the courts to answer the charge of dangerous driving and was released on bail.