The father of the 13-year-old girl
who was killed instantly after a truck ran over her is
calling on the police to monitor activities at pedestrian
crossings during peak hours.
13-year-old
school girl remains unconscious - on
the pedestrian crossing
Trishana Debidayal,
a second form student at the St Rose's High School was
struck down on Monday on a pedestrian crossing, as she
attempted to cross the Better Hope Public Road, East Coast
Demerara.
A police press release said the child was crossing from
north to south when a car proceeding east along the East
Coast stopped to allow her to cross.
The driver of motor lorry GJJ 3006 which was travelling
behind the car failed to stop and on overtaking struck
down the teenager, killing her on the spot.
Kaieteur News dated Tuesday,
October 30th 2007
Student killed on pedestrian crossing
Wednesday,
Februaury 08, 2006
The driver of the lorry is in police custody and
charges are expected to be laid shortly, stated the
release.
The child's father, Jerrick Dabydial, who was on his
way home when the accident occurred, recalled that persons
in the area told him that his daughter was on the
pedestrian crossing around 4 pm when she was hit by the
truck.
The man said that he heard that the wheel ran over her
head and the vehicle dragged her several feet before
coming to a halt.
"The police need to be on the road especially at
pedestrian crossings during peak hours to monitor what
goes on there," Dabydial stressed.
He told this newspaper that if this was done, the
accident could have been avoided.
"Kids are normally at that crossing for about
10-15 minutes. The traffic don't stop! If someone does
stop, other vehicles would usually overtake from the
inside or outside."
A relative of the girl told
Stabroek
News
that at the time of the accident the
driver of the truck was drunk. He said this was discovered
after a test of his breath was done by the police.
"He overtake with the same speed and only applied
brakes on the crossing," the man said.
The man recalled that after the accident, the driver
attempted to escape.
"After he hit the girl, he jump out the truck and
opened the door of a car that was passing. He attempted to
jump in, but them boys hold he and keep him till the
police come," he said.
The dead teenager was described as very religious. She
took part in many Hindu activities including Diwali
celebrations. She was one of the participants at `Kala
Utsav' last week.
The family told this newspaper that Trishana wanted to
be a vet. Her eldest sister stated that she loved animals.
Her mother said between sobs that her daughter was
second at the Vryheid's Lust Primary School at the Common
Entrance examinations.
The dead girl leaves to mourn two sisters, her parents
and many relatives and friends.
