The grieving family of Rhonda Peters is calling for justice after she was crushed to death by a truck along the Linden-Soesdyke Highway on June 20.
The 26-year-old driver was attached to J. Kissoon at the time of the incident. Unusually, the Guyana Police Force did not issue a report on the accident.
In an interview with APNU Member of Parliament Terrence Campbell in a Facebook Live broadcast, the family disclosed that 37-year-old Peters, a mother of three, was riding a motorcycle along the Linden-Soesdyke Highway when the accident occurred. She was accompanied by her 16-year-old nephew, who was the pillion rider.
The teen’s mother, who is also Peters’ sister, said that at about 12 pm that day her son called and informed her that Peters had been struck down by a truck.
“It wasn’t an electric bike; she was riding a regular motorcycle,” she said.
Peters was taken to the Diamond Regional Hospital. Her sister recalled that when she arrived at the hospital she was allowed to view the body and saw that the lower part of Peters’ body had been crushed.
She said the family later learnt of the court hearing and attended. The truck driver appeared at the Friendship Magistrate’s Court, where he was charged with causing death by dangerous driving. He was released on $500,000 bail and the matter was adjourned. The driver was also ordered to lodge his passport and report to the nearest police station on the last Friday of every month.
Kellyann Hadyde, Peters’ daughter, said the truck driver’s family attempted to settle the matter before the court hearing. She said her family retained an attorney to represent them.
According to Hadyde, the lawyer attempted to obtain information about the incident from the Yarrowkabra Police Station but was told that only junior ranks there were aware of the accident. Seeking further clarification, the lawyer contacted Commander of Regional Division 4B, Michael Kingston, who reportedly said he had only recently resumed duties and was unaware of the incident.
The family further alleged that on the night before the court proceedings, a police inspector telephoned them at about 10 pm requesting a statement. According to them, the officer said the statement in his possession was incomplete and lacked important details.
Peters’ sister said the inspector then visited their home around 1 am the following day and allowed her to read the statement purportedly given by her son. After reviewing it, she said she realised that parts of the statement contradicted what her son had actually told police.
The family subsequently refused to sign the statement, insisting that they would only do so in the presence of their lawyer.
“He said that this statement need more ingredients. He said he is an inspector and he want to come. He said he get the statement, tomorrow is court and the statement have to do over because a lot of things that supposed to be in because the child is a minor is not in the statement,” she alleged.
She added that her son remains traumatised by what he witnessed.
“He traumatised. He is only 16. He doesn’t even sleep at night. He hollering. I can’t even sleep without light in the house,” she said.
Hadyde said attorney-at-law Patrice Henry represented the family during the court proceedings. She said the truck driver was also represented by counsel, who described his client as family-oriented, appealed for leniency and told the court that the driver had been ill at the time of the accident.
Fighting back tears, Hadyde said the family has not been able to grieve properly because of the condition of her mother’s body. She explained that the injuries were so severe that the body could not be preserved for an extended period.
She further said her mother’s legs had been severed in the accident and the family pleaded with funeral home staff to stitch them back onto the body despite its condition.
Peters’ sister also recounted what her son told her about the moments leading up to the accident.
She said he related that the truck was travelling at a high speed, prompting Peters to pull to the side of the road and stop to allow it to pass. They later overtook the truck in heavy traffic and rode ahead, where they were clearly visible to the driver.
“He said when the traffic start to move, the truck driver ginching (sudden braking) so behind aunty Rhonda and he said he touch aunty Rhonda and he come off the bike right away because after he see the man ginching and he get frighten, so he jump off. By the time he jump off, the truck just drive over she. Me son said he had to lash the truck because he continue driving,” she stated.
Hadyde, the eldest of Peters’ three children, is a nursing student who receives a monthly stipend of $15,000. She said her mother had been the family’s primary breadwinner.
“We want justice”, Hadyde said.
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