Three-year-old Rani Lall who was struck down by a vehicle belonging to the Guyana Prison Service last Tuesday, died yesterday in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of the Georgetown Public Hospital (GPH).

Rani Lall

When Stabroek News visited the hospital yesterday, the child’s parents and other family members had gathered around and expressed disbelief at her passing. The mood was somber.

Lall, who had suffered severe head injuries in the accident, had remained in a critical and unconscious condition up to the time of her passing.

She leaves to mourn her parents and three older siblings. Her inconsolable mother is currently pregnant.

According to reports, Lall and her older sister, Mariah Paul, were on the pedestrian crossing attempting to cross over to the northern side of the Mon Repos highway when the accident occurred. They were going to attend a religious function at a relative’s home.

Mariah, 11, said that they were on the pedestrian crossing on the southern side of the highway and were about to cross to a relative’s house on the northern side of the road.

According to her, a vehicle proceeding east along the highway stopped and signalled them to cross. It was while crossing the road; the girls were struck by the driver of the Prison Service vehicle, which had licence plate number PLL 6005.

The driver was reportedly intoxicated at the time of the accident. Relatives said that he was taken into police custody following the accident.