An elderly Corentyne man is calling for justice after his 47-year-old daughter died on Thursday afternoon when she was struck by a heavy-duty lorry along the #67 Public Road, Berbice.
Pablo Hunt, 79, said his daughter, Priya Hunt of Lot 95B, #67 Village, Corentyne, should not have lost her life the way she did, and urged that the driver responsible be brought to justice.
“The person should go to prison, what do the act, because that hurt me a lot. I don’t know what will become of me. Me still got to live. Me have a sickly son, also me got to take care of him also. I got to cook some food here, and I don’t know what will become of me,” he said.
Police said the accident occurred at about 16:00hrs on Thursday and involved motor lorries GAF 6180 and GAE 8823, along with a female pedestrian.
According to information gathered, Hunt had just crossed the road when she was struck. Initial reports indicate that a heavy-duty lorry, reportedly transporting sand, collided with a Canter from behind, causing the Canter to overturn before the lorry struck Hunt.
Hunt was taken to the #75 Public Hospital, where she died on arrival.
Police said eight occupants of motor lorry GAF 6180 were also taken to hospital and are reportedly receiving treatment for minor injuries.
The drivers of both motor lorries are in Police custody assisting with the investigation.
Pablo Hunt said his daughter had left home earlier in the afternoon to attend a religious function, and that he was later alerted by a young girl that she had been involved in an accident along the public road.
“She left to go to a jhandi religious function, and just one, two hour after me hear the news a little girl come and tell me that me daughter get accident, on the road…Somebody said like she was going that over of the road, like she wanted to go to the shop and buy something or so they say after the work house she crossed the road this thing (motor vehicle) come with a way i dont know like to bypass one another a truck and hit the girl,” he related.
He said the loss was especially painful because he had spent years caring for his children. He described Priya as a religious and caring woman who lived with him and regularly assisted around the home, including with cooking and other household responsibilities.
Reflecting on her death, he said he had hoped that as his children grew older, they would eventually be able to look after him.
“Me did say like me children them go look me and now me had to look them, and thing come about like this, the girl get into an accident like this,” he said.
The drivers of both vehicles remain in Police custody as investigations into the circumstances surrounding the collision continue.
