TWELVE-year-old Austin Lashley of 59 Lime Street, Werk-en-Rust, Georgetown, died in an early morning accident Wednesday as he was returning home from the 44th Independence Anniversary flag raising ceremony at National Park with his mother and sisters.
Lashley, a former student of St. Thomas Moore Primary School, who would have been writing the National Grade Six Examination next year was with his mother, Pauletta Lashley and his sisters, Alana and Aconetta Lashley in motorcar HB 8270 when the incident occurred.
Tragedy struck as the motorcar collided with another vehicle at the corner of Rupert Craig Highway and Sheriff Street, Georgetown at about 01:00 hour.
According to an aunt of the deceased, Ms Bernadette Nelson, Alana, 12, a student of Charlestown Government Secondary School, was treated at the Georgetown Public Hospital for minor injuries and sent away. However, Aconetta, 9, was admitted a patient at the said hospital.
According to her, Alana received bruises to her head and below her knee while her sister received a more serious injury on her face.
The woman said the dead child’s mother, who also sustained injuries, was not told of her son’s demise for several hours after the incident.
According to her, the taxi driver claimed that the accident occurred as he was swerving from a dog on Sheriff Street.
According to another family member, who preferred to remain anonymous, the driver is noted for sleeping while driving. The relative added that the said taxi driver nearly caused the death of another family member in the past. This particular taxi is often used by the family, the relative said.
According to the relative, the driver, Desmond (only name given), hails from Lodge and formerly drove a mini-bus but later took up taxi driving. The driver was also involved in a few accidents where others in his care lost their lives, the relative disclosed.
The children’s mother, who is also a patient at the said institution, told this newspaper that she knew nothing of what transpired as she fell unconscious on the scene immediately following the accident.
She said she only regained consciousness on the hospital’s bed and she opined that white wagon she was travelling in crashed into another vehicle.
Lashley said the driver of the taxi is in police custody and that she was unsure if the driver of the other vehicle was held.