Siblings injured in a hit and run

Two primary school children were knocked down as they headed home from school on Thursday evening. Siblings, twelve year old Francine Francis and seven year old Herman Williams, both students at Saint Luke’s Methodist Primary School on Mahogany Street, were hit from behind by a white SUV as they rode on a bicycle to their house on Police Street. The impact sent both Francis and Williams to the pavement and they received injuries to various parts of the body. But even more disturbing is that the couple inside the vehicle did not stop to render assistance. The students were rushed to the emergency room of the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital where they were treated and released. Today, their grandmother, Wilma Whylie Thompson, says that the driver of the vehicle was heartless.

Wilma Whylie Thompson, Grandmother of Accident Victims

“I immediately went to the hospital and I found two of them in the emergency room and they said it was a hit and run. It [the car] knocked them from behind, the two children flipped over the handle of the bike and they got their injury. Really what I am hurt about is because they leaved them there. At least the person could have taken them to the hospital and inform some member of the family because just like how the mechanic from the other side could take them and wait till we show up or till the doctor get through; that person could have done the same. They are heartless. There was a man and a woman in the vehicle. I know they have nieces, nephews, if they noh have children and I sure they have pikney. It is the ay how they treat them like a piece of I noh know what. It heartless. If they woulda come to me, it woulda just gone like that. You tell me yo sorry; that woulda mi gone like that, but the way how dehn left them that dah weh hurt me the most. That’s why I really want them to investigate fi make I could know dah who or who dah this heartless person. There was a woman—that dah the part weh burn me—not only a man. There was a woman there and then you just left wah unconscious pikney and the next screaming one. When I get to the hospital, I had to run from one bedside to the next bedside because they are two screaming children.  Francine, she have wah bad burst over the eye, she have pain in the neck, her shoulder. The lee bwai, ih teeth…oh Francine, also, her tooth get knocked. The lee bwai, fi he lip get burst up, fi he nose; his face. He also di complain like lee headache, but I noh know.  Francine is a very careful lee gial and she has been taking care of her lee bredda from the time ih jump out because dah only two ih mommy have. Ih mommy just have a baby like a week ago and Francine doing a good job so far. It is just the both of them and they stick together very close.”

Duane Moody

Wilma Whylie Thompson

“Is there a fear now having them go to school on their own and coming back home?”

Wilma Whylie Thompson

“I wouldn’t know what to say about that because Francine is already twelve years old, she is in standard five; she have to know the way of life and the streets. Also junior is coming up, seven years old, but he still needs guidance.  Plus, the knock dah from behind so it can’t be that they were in the wrong cause they wouldn’t get knock from behind.”

Duane Moody

“Now, will they be going back to school for Monday?”

Wilma Whylie Thompson

“No I noh see it; I noh really see it. Francine di tell me that she is worrying about exam that is coming up. That’s what she is telling me about; if I still think that she will get the papers come to her so that she can finish that. And I di tell ahn that I will try see the teachers on Monday.”

Duane Moody

“So how long will they be out of school?”

Wilma Whylie Thompson

“I don’t know. We will just play it by ear and see how and what they can take. That’s the best that I can say for right now.”

Police are again seeking the public’s assistance in the apprehension of this driver.