Girl, 15, dies after boats collide on Moruca River

A 15-year-old girl is now dead after the boat she was traveling in collided with another along the Moruca River yesterday afternoon.

The dead teenager was identified as Alisha Romascindo, of ‘Cart Market,’ Koko village, Moruca, North West District.

Stabroek News was told that the collision occurred at approximately 2pm yesterday in the vicinity of Acquero Landing.

It was related that Romascindo and two older siblings were in a boat heading to the Kumaka Market area when a speeding commercial boat that is said to ply the Charity/ Port Kaituma route collided with their vessel, causing it to capsize.

This newspaper was also told that instead of stopping render assistance, the driver of the boat allegedly sped away. The driver of the boat was reported to be in custody at the Kumaka Police Station.

Upon witnessing the collision, public-spirited persons rushed to the rescue of the trio, but while Romascindo’s siblings did not receive any serious injuries, she was not as lucky.

Stabroek News was told that Romascindo was still breathing when she was pulled from the water and was rushed to the Kumaka District Hospital, where she was pronounced dead on arrival.

Well-placed sources explained that based on the injuries that were visible, it would seem that the teen sustained a fractured skull from hitting her head on the boat as a result of the collision.

A student of the Santa Rosa Secondary School, Romascindo was said to have been an avid footballer who represented her village at local games in the area.