RELATIVES of four-year-old Jadon Andrews, who died at the Georgetown Public Hospital (GPH) moments after being struck down by a route 45 minibus last Saturday on Water Street, Georgetown, are insisting that Jadon was no stranger to the traffic, and that he was exercising the curb drill when struck down by the bus.This, they say, contradicts the driver’s story about how the child was struck down. Their contention was also verified by footage on Giftland’s security camera.

“My brother was going back home; and as soon as he stepped out of Giftland yard, he looked left, and, before being able to look right, the bus came with a speed and knocked him down,” his elder sister told the Guyana Chronicle.

She said the kids would normally practise the drills which are taught them or shown on television by the National Road Safety Council.

Jadon, who had been a corner away from home playing with other boys, had been moved to compassion when a two-year-old began crying because he had no kite. Jadon had called on the child’s mother to give him money to buy the kite, but an older brother of the child took the money and went to Giftland Officemax to make the purchase.

Unknown to the lad, Jadon had made his way to the store, and was about to return home when the vehicle struck him down as he was doing the curb drill. His mother, who was at the N & S Mattai store when she received the horrifying news, hastened to the hospital, where she met Jadon being given oxygen. Reports are that Jadon had suffered fractured ribs and possibly a perforated lung.

Although experiencing severe pain, Jadon had pleaded with his mother not to go and leave him in hospital. She promised not to, and held his hand, at which point he breathed his last.

A visit to her home on Sunday found Jadon’s mother, Onicka Charles, still tearful and suffering severe headaches associated with her grief.

A post-mortem is to be performed on Jadon’s body on Wednesday.

Te driver of the minibus was up to Sunday afternoon still in police custody. (Shirley Thomas)