Police have arrested a Hampshire, Corentyne man in connection with the hit-and-run accident that claimed the life of Kildonan Primary School head teacher Sonia Williams on Monday afternoon.
Williams, 51, of Chesney Housing Scheme, Corentyne, had been an educator for more than 30 years. She was the mother of three.
The accident occurred at approximately 3.21 pm on the Rose Hall Town Public Road.
Police said initial enquiries revealed that Williams’s car, PAK 5566, was stationary on the southern side of the road when she reportedly attempted to open the right front door. A white car travelling west allegedly struck Williams and the opened door.
Williams fell onto the roadway and sustained injuries about her body. She was taken to the Port Mourant Public Hospital and later transferred to the New Amsterdam Public Hospital.
Senior Commander Kevin Das told Kiskadee Watch that Williams initially appeared to be in a stable condition. However, her condition subsequently deteriorated and she died while receiving treatment.
Das said investigators acted on information received and located the vehicle believed to have been involved in the accident.
Police subsequently identified the vehicle as PJJ 7624 and arrested its driver. Both the driver and the car were taken to the Rose Hall Town Police Station as the investigation continued.
Williams’s body is at the New Amsterdam Public Hospital mortuary awaiting a post-mortem examination.
Her son-in-law, Noah Sills, said he and his wife, who live in Linden, were informed by another relative overseas that Williams had been involved in an accident and was seriously injured.
They travelled to the New Amsterdam Public Hospital and remained at Williams’s bedside until she died.
According to Sills, Williams had visited Assuria to collect an eyeglasses voucher after school on Monday when the accident occurred.
He said Williams was in severe pain and complained of injuries to her head, back, shoulder, arm and legs.
The family is calling for a thorough investigation and for the person responsible to be held accountable.
“We are hoping that the person involved would be held accountable for his actions,” Sills said.
He described Williams as a quiet, kind, caring and forgiving person whose sudden death had devastated the family.
“This is not something we foresaw happening anytime soon,” he said. “She was a very loving individual, a quiet, kind, caring, very forgiving, warm and tender-hearted individual. This is affecting every one of us deeply.”
The Region Six Department of Education extended condolences to Williams’s relatives and the Kildonan Primary School community.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with her family and friends, as well as the entire staff, parents, and learners of Kildonan Primary School, during this time of profound loss,” the department said.
In a separate statement, the school described Williams as a committed educator, a dependable source of guidance and a valued member of the school community whose work touched the lives of pupils, staff, parents and colleagues.
It said her leadership and care helped to create a supportive environment in which pupils and staff could learn and develop.
“Your absence will be deeply felt, but your memories, dedication, and impact will remain with us,” the school said.
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