Mother’s Day tragedy

HOURS after wishing his mother, who resides in Canada, a happy Mother’s Day, 26-year-old Anil Mahabir decided to walk his girlfriend Elizabeth Mary Khemraj to her home across the Solomon Hochoy Highway in Claxton Bay. That was the last time the couple held hands. Both met their deaths when they were knocked down.

The tragic incident happened at around 8 pm at McAulay Village which is split into two — east and west — by the Hochoy Highway. Mahabir lived on the eastern side while Khemraj lived on the western side.

The couple was liming with relatives and friends earlier in the day at Mahabir’s Chamroo Trace home.

According to police, around 8 pm, Mahabir and Khemraj, 20, left his home en route to her house.

As the two crossed the north-bound lane to get to the other side of the village where Khemraj lived, she was struck by a green Nissan Almera and her body flung into the air, landing some distance away on the highway.

Mahabir, who was walking behind Khemraj, rushed towards her body and was knocked down by a white Honda Civic car. They were both pronounced dead at the scene by a District Medical Officer (DMO).

Police said the drivers of both cars claimed they did not see the couple crossing the highway since that part of the road has no street lights.

The driver of the Almera reportedly did not stop after hitting Khemraj and was later intercepted at Sixth Avenue in Barataria by Police Task Force Officers attached to the North-Eastern Division.

The Almera has been impounded at the Barataria Police Station and the driver was questioned by police. The Honda remains impounded at the St Margaret’s Police Station and its driver who is from Maraval, was also questioned by police.

Mahabir’s grandmother Marjorie Chamroo, 70, yesterday hugged a photo of her grandson as she cried in the gallery of her home.

The victim lived with his brother Neri, 27; sister, Linda, 23; aunt Anita Pollonais and grandmother.

Mahabir worked as a labourer for the past three years at R’s Hardware in Hermitage Road, McAulay Village.

Chamroo told Newsday Mahabir returned from work around 1 pm on Sunday and sometime later, his girlfriend came to meet him.

“The two of them lime with us. We had a little get together for Mother’s Day,” Chamroo said.

She added that Mahabir’s mother, Mala, lives in Canada and they were very close to each other, communicating via telephone almost on a daily basis. Around 2.30 pm, both mother and son spoke to each other over the telephone.

“Anil called her to wish her Happy Mother’s Day and to tell her how much he missed and loved her.

“He also told her that he would visit her soon. And now, look at what happened. He would never get to see his mother,” Chamroo cried.

Investigations are continuing.