-had just dropped off child at school
A 25-year-old mother of four died on the spot when she was struck down by a car while attempting to cross the Providence Public Road around lunchtime yesterday.
Mohan Geer and his four children following the death of his wife Mary Sandy yesterday.
Mary Sandy of Area A, Track C, Providence, and originally of Moruca, North West District, had only minutes before dropped off her four year old son at the Providence Primary School when she was struck down by the car PDD 9467. An eyewitness told Stabroek News that some cows were standing along the road shoulder, a short distance away from the National Stadium, when one of them walked into the path of the woman who was reportedly trekking along the eastern side of the road. She apparently tried to cross over to the western section of the road to avoid the cows, when she was hit by the car which was proceeding south along the busy public road. Following the impact, the eyewitness recalled, the woman was pitched into the air and landed a few yards away from the point of impact. She was picked up shortly after and taken to the Lyken’s Funeral home. The driver of the car was reportedly under the influence of alcohol at the time of the accident.
When this newspaper arrived on the scene a few shards of glass and a blue right side slipper were left close to the scene of the accident. Persons at the gas station recalled seeing the woman taking her children to school with her baby in her arms on a daily basis. A few persons had gathered at a shop located in front of the woman’s residence, opposite the National Stadium, as the owners of the property related the woman’s experiences prior to the accident.
The owner of the property told Stabroek News that the woman moved to the East Bank location about two years ago from Moruca. He said she was unemployed but worked as a domestic from time to time in the area. The man also related that the driver of the car and a few other persons were ‘drinking’ at his place of business prior to the accident.
As he was speaking to Stabroek News the woman’s husband, Mohan Geer, arrived shortly after taking his wife’s body to the funeral parlour and a heated argument ensued between him and his employer’s relatives as he tried to explain his whereabouts when the accident occurred. Geer said he was in front of the shop talking to his friends when his wife was struck down.
The man said he and his wife were not on speaking terms for a few days now and only yesterday he tried to ’patch things up‘ with her as he tried to speak to her. He said he is employed as a labourer at his current place of residence and worked hard to maintain his family. As the man was speaking, he was interrupted by his employer who said Geer should have been paying more interest to the welfare of his four sons. The man said Geer drinks a lot and ‘smokes weed’. Geer admitted that he uses illegal drugs but promised to change his lifestyle in the interest of his children.
Three of the man’s children, Andre, 4, Tyronne,3, and 2-year- old Anthony were going about their usual child-like routines as the exchanges were taking place. Members of the public offered comforting words to the three lads as their two-month-old baby brother, Andrew was being bottle-fed by a relative.
The car which was involved in the accident yesterday
Their father showed members of the media the family’s one-bedroom shack located at the back of his employer‘s place of business. He said he is living under difficult circumstances and asked those around to try and understand his situation. A small fireside stood next to the structure as an unfriendly odour, emanating from a door-less pit latrine, located a few yards away, greeted anyone who approached the entrance of the man’s home. Use of the fireside left parts of the structure’s walls scorched and when questioned as to the safety of cooking so close to the house, the man said it was the best he could have done. He promised to take care of his children even as his employer related that Geer had been physically abusing his wife. Geer said he does not know if he abuses his wife since he may have been under the influence of alcohol when this occurs. It was suggested by some that this family is now in desperate need for help from welfare services.
Meanwhile, the car involved in the fatal accident is in the compound of the Providence Police station and the driver is in police custody. His relatives gathered at the Providence station with concerned looks on their faces as he was being grilled by police officers there.
The abode of Mary Sandy and her family.
This case, observers say, would have been another one ripe for testing of the breathalyzer law which President Bharrat Jagdeo signed into a law on May 22 at a ceremony at the Office of the President. It however appears that the police force is still to apply the new law.
Rum, rum n mo rum, get drunk n drive n kill people, cows roamin d streets not bein attended 2 by their owners, sad 4 mary, who gone n leave four kid, my ur husband find justice, b strong, may her soul rip.
Also there should be pedestrian crossings on the parts of the road that runs through heavily populated areas. The man was drinking at his place of business middle of the day. What’s going on in Guyana?
OMG! Look at what she was going through and then killed by a drunken driver.Life in Guyana is so cruel,an abusive husband,a drunking driver and cows on the road contributed to the tragic death of this young mother.Can things get worse than this in Guyana?RIP MARY SANDY.
And an uncaring vindictive government too dont forget.
This is just so sad. The driver of the car if he had been under the influence of alcohol should feel the full brunt of the law. Under the influence at 12:30 p.m.
The reaction of the father seems cold, distant and detached for one who had just seen his wife removed dead from an accident scene. It seems hardship in Guyana has made people numb and incapable of displaying human emotions after such a tragedy. Death hath lost its sting. Rest In Peace Mary.
everyone react to death differently borapork.
This is really sad!!!!!!!!!I pray and hope things will work out for this man and his young children.My dad took care of nine children after the death of our mom when I was just 3 yrs old and my last sister only 2.We are all grown and doing well to God be all the glory.Sir you can do it,attitude makes all the difference.May her soul rest in peace.THAT IS WHY I ALWAYS SAY TO PEOPLE LIVE EVERY MOMENT AS THOUGH ITS THE LAST YOU NEVER KNOW WHAT THE NEXT MOMENT HOLDS FOR YOU.LETS ALL TRY TO LOVE INSTEAD OF HATE.LIFE IS TOO SHORT!
The sad local cook-up with the major ingredients:
- drinking and driving
- animals wandering the roads
- drug/alcohol addiction
- domestic abuse
- an unwed/abandoned mother struggling to educate her children
- people left to fall thru’ the cracks/gaps/chasms
- and more
A government that cannot rule its people because of it’s own incompetence.
My condolences goes out to mr. geer and his family for the lost of his wife, hope he can forgive himself for not making up back with his wife before her untimely death, and i hope he get some assistance in raising his four children, and hope he leave the alcohol alone, the drunk driver should be jailed for murder.
O God this is so close to home . 3 years ago in July my father in law was hit on Rosognol Road by a driver rushing to catch the boat. RIP Sandy. Those children , those children especially that few weeks old baby.
This story is sad from top to bottom. Everyone seem to be victims of cercumstances and it reflects the terrible social ills that are plaging our society. How can anyone read this story and not feel some form of metion; sadness for the woman and children; rage at the drunk driver; angry at the husband; concern for the shack that is at the risk of going up in flames with the children inside.
This has ripped me up to see these children left to exist in almost nothingness.
These ppl meking too many children.Who would be taking care of these kids now?the father seems like a rumy and would be deemed useless.Jailing the driver wouldn’t take care of the kids,he should be working to pay for nanny to care for the kids.
Witch.Dr the rich get richer and the poor get babies.
Mary Sandy originated from a very poor family in Moruca, poverty in the place cause her to move out & look for a better living in Providence. There is’nt anything her husband could do now & her family is ill unable to assist her & now would have seek the assistance of the welfare services. She was known in her village & they should not let her down but render some assistance. The drunken driver, buddy u have to feel the squeeze, he has to give account to 4 children for their mom. Sweets dreams & night mares in jail budddy. Remember once u r a driver & u hit someone down u always get the wrong, in Guyana there is’nt any rights for drivers but when it comes to alcohol I’m sorry buddy.
shuuuuuuuuuu
Women think that they are leaving bad in the bush to find good in GT. Well, forget it. Often you are better off remaining where you are, you can always find a fruit to eat or something at the farm and relatives will help with children. Don’t come to the city and pick up drug-addicts. Stay in school!