Fatal accident at Goed Fortuin: Police promise thorough, impartial investigation into death of 12-year-old

As condolences continue to pour in for the parents and family of 12-year-old Kayla Barnabus, who lost her life in a tragic accident on Wednesday, acting Deputy Police Commissioner (Administration) Calvin Brutus, along with other senior Police officials, on Thursday visited the grieving family.

Brutus, who met with the child’s parents – Delmon and Somatee Barnabus at their School Street, Goed Fortuin home, expressed his sympathy on the tragedy, on behalf of the Guyana Police Force (GPF) and himself.
Brutus assured the grieving parents that a thorough and impartial investigation would be conducted into the unfortunate accident.

He also assured the family of the GPF’s commitment to helping them through this extremely difficult time and noted that Police would assist in every way possible to take care of the expenses of the wake and funeral arrangements for Kayla.
The 12-year-old lost her life on Wednesday after she was struck down by a vehicle belonging to the Police Force that was transporting prisoners at the time.
Kayla was described by her mother as a godly child who was brilliant, kind, compassionate, caring and loved by all. She was a first-form student of the West Demerara Secondary School.

Deputy Commissioner Brutus was accompanied by Regional Commander for Division #3, Senior Superintendent Mahendra Siwnarine; Traffic Chief, Superintendent Ramesh Ashram; Head of the Force’s Community Relations Department, Superintendent Crystal Robinson, along with members of the Cops and Faith Community Network.
It was reported that on the day in question, a vehicle had stopped for the young lady to use the pedestrian crossing, but the vehicle attached to the GPF bearing registration number GXX 6575, driven by a Police Corporal, reportedly overtook the stationary vehicle and struck the pupil.
From reports received, the vehicle was allegedly speeding at the time.
The Police stated that the now-dead child ran from east to west across the road in the path of the pick-up. They added that the driver swerved to avoid a collision, but the front of the vehicle collided with the schoolgirl.
She sustained injuries about her body and was picked up in an unconscious state and taken to the West Demerara Regional Hospital (WDRH), where she was pronounced dead on arrival. The driver of the vehicle was placed under close arrest.
A breathalyser test was administered to the driver, but there were no traces of alcohol in his system. The Police are currently reviewing CCTV footage of the accident.