Plaisance is stunned at the loss of five young men from the community following the smash-up at Land of Canaan — two of whom were notably absent from a family reunion yesterday — and over on the East Bank a family is hoping a little girl who was injured in the crash wakes up from a coma.
Those close to Jason and Julian Martin, Colin Fredericks, Ezra Ferguson, and Royston Dempster all of Plaisance, struggled to come to grips with reality yesterday while the relatives of little Priya Ali who was struck by the car Jason was driving are keeping watch at the hospital in hope that she regains consciousness.
Since the accident the child has been unconscious and within hours of doctors reporting visible improvements her prognosis shifted from critical to a 50 per cent chance of survival. A brain scan taken late Sunday night revealed that Priya’s brain was swelling and doctors have warned that if this persists the child might not make it.
“I ain’t leave the hospital since they bring she here and every time I go into see she is one way she deh and is hard fuh me, hard fuh all ah we,” the girl’s father, Chetram Chabiram said yesterday outside the Intensive Care Unit.
Doctors have also reported that Priya suffered broken hips, left shoulder and injuries to her legs but of greater concern to the family are her brain injuries. Chabiram said the family has shied away from thinking negatively and are praying for Priya who is the younger of his two children.
Reports are that the smash-up occurred at the turn at the Land of Canaan public road. The vehicle, PLL 328, that the five friends were in was heading towards the city and had reportedly swerved to avoid Priya, her aunt Nazeena Ali and her husband, Himnauth Agard and collided with a pick-up, PJJ 2909. Priya and her relatives were heading home when the accident occurred.
Nazeena Ali told Stabroek News at the hospital on Sunday night that they attempted to get away from the car but it came too quickly. “This car just carry she [Priya] away and pitch me away,” she was quoted as saying.
In a press release issued yesterday the police bemoaned the way some commuters used the East Bank highway last weekend particularly on Sunday. The force said that fun-loving Guyanese who traverse the highway and other parts of the East Bank were less than careful resulting in two fatal accidents; one in which the five persons died and another in which Edgar Daniels of Caldeonia died – both accidents occurred on Sunday.
The police said Jason Martin lost control of the vehicle he was driving, which was allegedly going to a fast rate, resulting in the collision with Priya and her relatives. Additionally William Mann of Industry, East Coast Demerara who driving the pick-up and Stanley Mann who was travelling with him were also injured and admitted to the Diamond Diagnostic Centre.
“The wanton loss of life and destruction of property ought to be of concern to all commuters. The force is urging everyone to be more careful when commuting on the roads and, in addition, to act responsibly and refrain from drinking when having to drive on the roadways,” the police statement said.
The force said that speeding has been the main contributor to road accidents, adding that this was evident in the accident at Land of Canaan.
Jumped out of
a moving car
A younger cousin of Colin Fredericks who went into a state of shock after the smash-up wore a blank look on his face yesterday when Stabroek News visited the home. Fredericks’ grandmother related that the young man witnessed the accident and had jumped out of the car he was travelling in while it was still moving to help his cousin. He was in the car just behind the one Fredericks was in.
She said that the group of friends from Plaisance went to the highway in two cars and on witnessing the accident Fredricks’ cousin jumped out the vehicle to help. He injured his right knee in the process but managed to rush over and pull out his cousin and friends from the wrecked car, according to the grandmother.
The woman then burst into tears saying that her grandson was a gem who knew everyone in the area and was well liked. “I am going to miss him so much,” she added.
Over at the home of Ezra Ferguson his mother, Nicole put on a brave face as she greeted visitors to the home. Family and friends flocked the residence to console her as she sat in a chair, grief blanketing her face.
“My grandsons are no longer here and that is difficult to live with,” attorney-at-law Gwendolyn Bristol said yesterday at the Plaisance home she shared with Jason and Julian Martin and a granddaughter. She lamented that the boys were no longer around, gone forever from her life.
Bristol said she has no idea if she can go on living alone in the home with just one granddaughter since the absence of the two young men would be greatly felt.
Celebration
and grief
Close to 150 Bristol family members were at the National Park yesterday at a picnic as part of a family reunion but sorrow was in the midst of their happiness. They gave thanks to God for brining them together and prayed for a safe journey home to his kingdom for Jason and Julian Martin, two of their own who died in the accident on Sunday.
“It is unfortunate and sad that those young men could not be here today to celebrate with us at what is such a special time for the Bristols but they are here in spirit. With or without the Bristol name you can spot one of us and those boys were Bristols to the core,” Allan Bristol told this newspaper.
Relatives joined in lamenting the loss of the two young men, some noting that the accident was the work of the devil. According to one relative, the devil was at work on the highway on Sunday but she said that the family will get through it. Still, the void would be felt and the pain there as they celebrate in the coming days.
Within the next few days over 300 members of the extended Bristol family will attend a series of activities as part of a reunion under the theme ‘For Generations to come… Our Heritage… Our Future’.
The reunion, for which some 150 Bristols have traveled from the US, Canada, the UK and Antigua, officially kicked off on Sunday morning at the National Gymnasium, Mandela Avenue with a non-denominational church service, registration, welcome and greetings.
As the Bristols reconnect they will grieve, one relative added, but they will also celebrate the lives of the two young men who were eager to get together with relatives and enjoy the reunion.
The Bristol family’s genesis in Guyana was from three Antiguan brothers who came here long ago, two of whom settled in Nabaclis/Golden Grove and Berbice while the third traveled and traded. The idea for the reunion took root two years ago when local family member, Quacy Bristol, was shot dead on the seawall and his motorcycle stolen.
