A nine-year-old pupil of Tain Primary School, Corentyne, Berbice, was yesterday morning discharged from the Port Mourant Public Hospital after she was struck down by a car on Wednesday night. Police have since detained the driver of the hire car, one of two cars involved in the accident.
The injured child who hails from Miss Phoebe, Corentyne, was said to have suffered minor injuries and was kept overnight for observation but was discharged yesterday.
A report from the Traffic Officer of Regional Division #6, Assistant Superintendent Raun Clark, stated that the incident occurred about 6:45 pm on the Miss Phoebe Public Road. It involved hire car, HD 848, owned and operated by 54-year-old Junior Leitch of Lancaster Village, Corentyne and another car, PWW 5659, owned by Tamesh Singh and at the time of the incident was driven by 22-year-old Shazeem Khan of Corriverton, Berbice.
Enquiries revealed that HD 848 was proceeding east along the northern drive lane of Miss Phoebe Public Road, ahead of PWW 5659, when the child who was standing on the northern side of the road at the pedestrian crossing, proceeded to cross from north to south.
Hire car, HD 848, which was approaching the crossing, failed to stop in time and struck the child down. Simultaneously, the other car, PWW 5659, collided with the rear of HD 848.
The child was picked up by public-spirited citizens and rushed to the hospital where she was examined and admitted.
The police subsequently attended the accident scene and Breathalyzer tests were conducted on both drivers which read zero. The area was canvassed by investigators for CCTV footage but they came up empty-handed. Both vehicles were lodged and are to be examined by a Licensing and Certifying Officer.
Investigations are ongoing.
