A mother, left distraught by the death of her son in a traffic accident last Tuesday night on the Timehri Public Road, is feeling short-changed by police who are yet to update her on the status of the investigation.
A post-mortem examination revealed that Kevin James died as a result of a broken spinal cord and head injures. He was laid to rest yesterday. According to Ann, the man who hit down and killed her son had pledged assistance but none ever came.
Ann James moved to Soesdyke, East Bank Demerara from Mabaruma five months ago with her seven children to be closer to her husband who is a miner. Kevin, her eldest, was heading home after spending an afternoon fishing when he was struck down while attempting to cross the road. According to a police press release, around 9.30 pm the child was struck down by motor car PJJ 9636.
The driver was held and on Thursday last, Ann said, “Is this morning [Thursday] I get to understand that the driver went to court.” She added that she was not officially notified and did not even know which court the driver appeared in.
“He like to go fishing but I don’t ’low he,” Ann said of her son, her eyes filling with tears. The woman said on the ill-fated day Kevin had left to go fishing at a bridge that was just a short distance from their home.
Ann, who is a domestic worker, said that when she got home around 7 pm, Kevin was not at home and after serving dinner to her other children she at first decided to keep watch for him. “Me did tired so me go and lie down,” she said; soon after she heard someone calling for her. It was a neighbour from across the road who was inquiring if her sons were home. It was then she learned that her son had been hit by a vehicle which had taken him to the Diamond Diagnostic Centre.
With the help of her employer, Ann said, she travelled to the hospital where she was told her son was pronounced dead on arrival. Later she gave a statement to the police. “I cannot catch ma self on to now,” Ann said.
Yesterday Ann said it was assistance from the Amerindian Affairs Ministry along with the little money her close relatives and friends provided that allowed her to bury her son. Her husband was present for the funeral, she added.
Kevin was supposed to start school in January. Ann said she needed to get her children’s birth certificates before they could be enrolled in school.
