A 13-YEAR-OLD President’s College student was killed yesterday morning after he was struck off his pedal cycle by a car, the driver of which persons in the area allege was speeding at the time of the accident.Dead is Cojoe McPherson Junior, of Lot 755 Fifth Street Dazzel Housing Scheme, East Coast Demerara, who was running an erand for his father when the accident occurred. At the time of his demise, the death toll for road accidents between last Wednesday and yesterday stood at ten.

Speaking with this newspaper late yesterday from his Dazzel Housing Scheme home, Cojoe McPherson Senior, the dead lad’s father, said he was at home when someone came on a cycle calling for him. He said when he approached the man, he immediately sensed that something was wrong with his son; he even asked if his son was dead, but all the messenger did was encourage him to take a walk with him.
McPherson said when he arrived on the scene of teh accident, he saw his son lying dead in the ‘grass-corner’ on the Railway Embankment at Paradise; his head was awash with blood, and he was also bleeding through his mouth.
According to shaken gentleman, when he looked at the car, he immediately that his son was in the right, and that it was the driver of the car who had erred.
However, the driver initially claimed that it was the child who was in the wrong, although he could not explain in what way, and how come the left side of his windscreen was shattered rather than the right side.
Mr McPherson described his son as a child after his own heart, particularly where his scholastic ability was concerned, as substantiated by many who showed up at the family’s home to offer their condolences.
They described the child’s death as “the killing of a future president.”
According to Mr McPherson, when he looked at the driver of the car, the man appeared to be under the influence of something, though he could not say what. He admitted that he did not smell alcohol on the man; nor did the man appear to have been drinking.
Other persons to whom this newspaper spoke said that the driver’s under-the-influence appearance was nothing strange, as that’s the way he’s always looked.
Some also associated the man with reckless driving along the East Coast corridor, as they made reference to the speed at which he would usually be seen driving and traversing the areas between Victoria and Paradise.
Cojoe’s dad also called for stricter penalties for drivers who would have caused the death of persons due to careless, reckless and dangerous driving.
The man said his family does not really celebrate Christmas, as they are more focused on preserving their lives and hence the drinking and partying is not a feature for them. He said this unfortunate killing of his son in a road accident has placed a hole in his heart.
He said, “The offence, I know, is bailable, but it is unjust for people who work hard and bring up their children in a proper manner. My son was my knight in shining armour… and for the parents like me who lost their children to accidents, it is not right…I feel the government should do something about it.”
Meanwhile, when this newspaper visited the Cove and John Police Station, the vehicle involved in the accident was parked in the compound; also there were some of the driver’s relatives.
The police were also said to be preparing to take the man for medical attention, after it was reported that he was beaten by persons at the scene of the accident.
They also claimed that this was not the man’s first accident of such serious proportions, as they mentioned a person who is still unable to walk properly due to an accident caused by the very errant driver. The police are continuing their investigations into the accident.

(By Leroy Smith)