| By Zena HenryAnger engulfed residents of the small East Bank Demerara community of Friendship yesterday afternoon,Evgeny Svechnikov Red Wings Jersey, when the life of one of its youngest members was snuffed out by an alleged speeding driver. Twelve-year-old EzekielDillon listens as the driver recount the minutes before her son’s death.Murray also called ‘Sonny’,Jarred Tinordi Canadiens Jersey, died on the spot after a canter truck slammed into him, and hurled his body some distance away,Marc-Andre Fleury Penguins Jersey, before running it over.It was just before sundown when the Lot 34 Friendship Public Road resident met his demise. The Friendship Secondary School student was about to cross the road when the “speeding” canter slammed into him.Eyewitnesses said that the driver is to be blamed since he failed to drive through the community at a moderate speed. The man was said to be overtaking a parked truck at the same time the child was about to cross the road.Residents,Lars Eller Canadiens Jersey, who saw the accident,Paul Martin Penguins Jersey, said that after Murray was hit by the truck it threw him some distance away. And since the driver could not immediately stop, the canter ran over the young man. They said the child’s body rolled and tumbled several times under the vehicle as the front and back wheels ran him over.His mangled body was left lying in the center of the road where his friends, residents and family members gathered in disbelief. The young man sustained several visible injuries. His bones were visibly broken. Pieces of flesh and bone were spewed not far from the body,Brendan Gallagher Canadiens Jersey, while blood streamed from a huge gash in his head.The obviously shaken driver who did not give his name, tried feverishly not to do anything that would further upset the ‘screaming and cussing’ crowd gathered on the scene. He told the police that he was overtaking, “a parked ready-mix truck,” when the child appeared from nowhere.He said it was impossible to stop the vehicle in time to prevent it from running over the boy’s body. After the accident, the driver parked the truck a short distance away, before heading back to the scene to ascertain the extent of the damage caused.Angry residents were heard telling the driver,Jason Chimera Capitals Jersey, ‘look this road, look how small is this road ya’ll does be carrying on pon.” “Ya’ll ent fed up killing people.”Murray’s mother, Iris Dillon arrived on the scene after receiving word that her son was involved in an accident.This newspaper was unable to speak with the distraught woman. It was said that she left her home an hour before the accident occurred for her job as a security guard at the Supply Primary School. With a curious, but frightened look on her face,Ryan McDonagh Rangers Jersey, the mother cautiously approached the body and raised the white sheet which covered it, to confirm her worst fears.She immediately dropped onto the roadway screaming,Alexei Emelin Canadiens Jersey, “Not my baby; no, no, no, not Sonny.” After gaining some composure she sought to find out what caused her son to meet his demise. She then set out to find the driver and get his version of the story.She was heard asking the man, “You is de driver?” In a calm and submissive tone, with arms stretched forward she urged, “Is wha happen? You tell me. Is wha happen?” Traffic ranks eventually arrived on the scene and Murray’s body was placed in the tray of a van and taken to the Diamond Diagnostic Centre. His mother remained seated along the roadside refusing to leave the last place she saw her son.Murray is survived by five siblings and his parents. This newspaper understands that the boy was born in Trinidad and was expected to travel back there after spending some time in Guyana. He would have celebrated his 13th birthday in two weeks.Last January the Works Services Group (WSG), a unit within the Public Works Ministry reported that road fatalities involving children had grown by a disturbing 40 percent in 2014. Already, 28 road fatalities were recorded by the end of March this year. |
