A 47-year-old woman died Thursday afternoon after she was struck in a collision involving two motor lorries along the Number 67 Public Road, Corentyne, shortly after leaving a Jhandi.
Dead is Priya Hunte, of Lot 95 “B” Number 67 Village, Corentyne, Berbice.
The fatal accident occurred at approximately 16:00 hours, and involved motor lorries GAF 6180 and GAE 8823, along with Hunte, who was a pedestrian.
Hunte’s father, Pablo Hunte, told News Room that Priya left their home around 13:00 hoursto attend a Jhandi being held a short distance away. He said several hours later, a young girl went to his home and informed him that Priya had been involved in an accident.
Pablo said he immediately went to the scene, but upon arrival, his daughter had already been taken to the hospital.
“Those trucks are driving with too much of speed and caused accident on the road,” he said.
Neighbour Alicia Rashdhari said she remained at the Jhandi after it ended and witnessed Hunte leaving to return home.
She said that only minutes later, she heard a strange sound and decided to investigate.
Rashdhari said she found Hunte lying motionless on the roadway and assisted in taking her to the Number 75 Public Hospital, where she was pronounced dead on arrival.
According to Rashdhari, Hunte was attempting to cross the road when motor lorry GAF 6180, which had eight occupants, stopped to allow her to cross. She alleged that motor lorry GAE 8823 then struck Hunte.
“We all have children who are driving on the road, but come on you have to look out when someone wants to cross the road. The canter, stop for her to cross, but he [motor lorry GAE 8823] came from the back and I don’t know what happened there,” she said.
Rashdhari further alleged that after the collision, the driver of GAE 8823 fled the scene.
She said concerned citizens pursued the driver and eventually managed to capture him before he was taken to the Springlands Police Station.
“We want justice because from my point of view, this is not the first accident for that driver, and he was speeding away. They have to see what they will do with him,” she said.
The eight occupants of GAF 6180 were also taken to hospital, where they are receiving treatment for minor injuries.
The drivers of both lorries are in police custody assisting with the investigation.
Police investigations into the circumstances surrounding the fatal accident are continuing.
