-mom, sisters injured
A mother of three was last evening mourning the loss of her only son following a collision at the junction of Sheriff Street and the Rupert Craig Highway early yesterday morning.
According to a police release, an investigation has been launched into the fatal collision which occurred around 12:30 am resulting in the death of 11-year Austin Lashley of 59, Lime Street, Werk-en-Rust. His mother Paulette Lashley and two other siblings, 14-year old Alana and 8-year-old Acknette sustained injuries to parts of their bodies following the accident. Alana was later discharged from the hospital.
The police stated that the driver of motor car PLL 3541 was proceeding west along the Rupert Craig Highway while the driver of motor car HB 8270, in which the Lashleys were travelling, was heading in an easterly direction. Both drivers turned into Sheriff Street simultaneously on encountering flashing amber lights resulting in the collision, the police noted.
The lad was pronounced dead on arrival at the Georgetown Public Hospital shortly after the accident. His mother, Paulette Lashley, an employee of Federal Management Systems in Queenstown sustained minor injuries to parts of her body, including her left side. She told this newspaper from her hospital bed that she and her three children were returning home from the annual Independence celebrations at the National Park when the accident occurred.
She said she could not recall what transpired at the time, noting that she only regained consciousness around 3 pm yesterday following which she was given the grim news of her son’s passing. She said the family caught the taxi, said to be a wagon, outside the National Park after the event concluded on Tuesday evening.
The woman noted that Acknette was at the Paediatric Ward of the medical institution undergoing treatment for injuries she sustained to the face while her older sister, who sustained a cut to the forehead and bruises to her feet, was discharged from the hospital earlier in the day.
Relatives told this newspaper that they were only told about the accident sometime before lunch yesterday, noting that the family would spend time with other relatives in another part of the city. The Lashleys only moved to the city about two years back from Berbice after the children’s parents separated.
Both drivers are in police custody as investigations into the accident continue.
