Jessica Xavier charged with causing death by dangerous driving

Local singer Jessica Xavier yesterday appeared in court charged with causing death by dangerous driving and was released on self bail.

According to information out of the police public relations office, Xavier was charged following a February 25th accident on the Mon Repos Public Road, East Coast Demerara.

It is alleged that, the woman stuck down 20-year-old Vangaskar Ramcharitar. The injured man was rushed to the Georgetown Hospital where he was admitted and later succumbed to his injuries on March 4.

Jessica Xavier
Jessica Xavier

Following the accident, Xavier was placed on station bail but when the man died she was charged.

She appeared before Magistrate Alex Moore at the Sparendaam Court where the particulars of the charge were read to her.

Ramcharitar, known as ‘Sonny’, of Lot 664 Good Hope, East Coast Demerara, was struck down at the Mon Repos Market. The man succumbed on Sunday last while being treated at the Georgetown Public Hospital.

According to the dead man’s uncle, Andrew Ramcharitar, it was around 1:30am when his nephew was on his way home that tragedy struck. He related that eyewitnesses had reported that the man was crossing the road and the female driver was travelling west when the accident occurred.

Vangaskar Ramcharitar

He stated that his nephew was assisted into a taxi by a public-spirited citizen who then transported him to the GPH.

His mother, Anita John, only received information on her son’s accident later that day when someone from the hospital called her and asked her to visit the GPH.

“When she went to the Accident and Emergency unit they tell her that there is no one by that name but she got another call later that day and was told that her son in the ICU,” he explained.

He noted that though the man remained in an unconscious state throughout the ordeal, they became hopeful after he was transferred to the High Dependency Unit (HDU). However, a few days later, on Sunday, he succumbed.

According to his uncle, doctors could not ascertain the injuries Ramcharitar suffered but were only able to say that he had severe head injuries, both his arms were broken, along with his right leg and his left eye was damaged. If he had survived, the man said, he would have been blind in that eye.

A post-mortem examination later revealed that he died of pulmonary thromboembolism and multiple injuries.

Ramcharitar was said to be the breadwinner of the home since his father died some two years ago and his two sisters got married and moved out of the mother’s home.

John explained that her only son provided for her since she suffers from a heart problem and is unable to work. “I don’t know what I gon do now… not to say my daughters are rich people to look after me,” she said.

The distressed woman described her son as a very good, decent and religious child.

When Stabroek News visited the home last evening, a religious ceremony was in session and relatives indicated that funeral is planned for Sunday.