FIVE months ago I was in Guyana when I witnessed a car hit a woman and kill her on Regent Street. Even though she was drunk, she didn’t deserve to die like that. I know that our actions have consequences. I still feel compassion towards her family. That compassion led me to write this letter. Lately, I have been thinking about the dead woman (it is sad that I don’t even know her name), her family, the driver who hit her, and my response to the accident.
First of all let me share my thoughts on the deceased. I saw the car hit her, and she went up in the air and then down on the ground in the middle of Regent Street (thank God no other cars ran over her, as you know Regent Street is busy).
Secondly, I have been thinking about the woman’s family. What a sad way to lose a family member. The death of a loved one is always sad, but to lose a loved one due to alcohol is tragic.
Thirdly, I have been thinking about the driver. He too was affected by the accident. He was driving slowly, and she walked, literally, into his car. Even though it wasn’t his fault, I am sure he still feels guilty for her death. I would.
Five months later, the accident and my response to the accident are what troubled and continue to trouble me to this day.
My lack of response reminded me of the story of the Good Samaritan in the Bible. In the story a man was in need of medical help, three men came to him but only one of the men was willing to help. He is called the Good Samaritan.
Like the man in the Good Samaritan’s story, the woman needed medical help. She was lying in the street and bleeding. I wanted to help, but I was afraid of getting AIDS from her blood. I was thinking about my health not hers.
I am asking that woman’s family for forgiveness for being a coward and for lacking the compassion to help.
Since then, I have asked myself, what if it was my mother lying and bleeding in the street, how would I feel, if a person responded the way I did?
That experience has changed me. I hope next time that I am in a similar situation I will not worry about what will happen to me, if I help but what would happen to the person if I don’t help.
I think Guyana can use some Good Samaritans, if it wants to be a better country. When someone is in need of help, Guyanese need to stop asking the question what will happen to me if I help, and start asking the question, what will happen to the person if I don’t help. I was a Bad Samaritan to the woman and her family. I failed them. My prayers are with the deceased family and the driver.