Mother of accident victims wants answers

A single parent and mother of eight is questioning what she calls “slow operations” on the part of the police service in arresting a police officer who knocked down two of her children while they were crossing for school early Wednesday morning in the vicinity of the Guaico Government Primary School.

Claudette Guy, 41, of Damarie Hill, Sangre Grande told Newsday that while her children were in critical condition at hospital, the offender had not been arrested. Her two children, Corina Caraballo, nine, and Jevern Caraballo, six, are currently warded at the Wendy Fitzwilliam Paediatric Hospital. Doctors informed that Corina suffered severe haemorrhaging and a swollen brain and Jevern, a fractured leg. According to reports, Corina, Jervern and their ten-year-old sister Whi-tney Caraballo were on their way to school when the incident occurred a short distance from their home. “I was putting on my shoes inside the house when the children were outside already waiting to cross the road to get to school. They would never cross the road unless the road is clear,” Guy told Newsday.

Eyewitnesses to the incident, who included teachers from Guaico Government Primary, the school’s security guard, and CEPEP workers, said one driver stopped to allow the three to cross along the pedestrian crossing, and as they cleared the solid white line and stepped onto the sidewalk, a vehicle came charging towards them heading west. The driver was identified as a police officer, who, police said at-tempted to overtake a stationary vehicle which was also heading west, and ran into the children.

When contacted, Sangre Grande Police informed that the officer had not yet been arrested and charged and that Sgt Joseph of the Traffic Branch was conducting inquiries. Guy is also requesting help from the government to secure a proper home for herself and her children, five of whom reside with her. Guy, who comes from a battered home, said she has written the Prime Minister on three occasions for assistance in securing her basic necessities. The eldest of her children is 17 and the youngest, one.