Boy, six, critical after struck by car

Relatives of a six-year-old Melanie Damishana boy, who was struck down by a car while attempting to cross the Railway Embankment road on Sunday, were yesterday afternoon hoping for the best as the child remained in an unconscious state.

At the Georgetown Public Hospital yesterday, Raulvin Maynard’s parents were too distraught to speak as they consoled each other and expressed hope that he would recover from his injuries.

According to an aunt, the child’s condition “looked worse” yesterday afternoon, she said he had appeared to be recovering when she visited him yesterday morning.

Maynard’s aunt said he was about to cross the road shortly after 2 pm on Sunday when he was struck down by the car, PLL 1332, even as his father looked on helplessly. According to the aunt, Maynard, who is the third of four siblings, was at the East Coast location with his parents who were preparing to open a new shop this week. She said the child’s father was looking on as his son crossed the road.

She said the Stratsphey Primary School student saw the car moving in his direction and after noticing the vehicle, he stood in his tracks on the side of the road. The car then hit him, flinging him several feet away from the point of impact.

She said the driver of the car was using his mobile phone at the time and he reportedly told the child’s relatives that he was “in a hurry” to return to a function at Better Hope, also on the East Coast Demerara, yesterday.
A release from the Georgetown Public Hospital had said that Maynard ran across the road and into the path of a moving car.

However, relatives said that this was not the case.
Maynard sustained injuries to his head and neck and was treated and admitted to the Intensive Care Unit.
The driver and the car involved in the accident were subsequently taken into police custody as investigations into the accident continue.