Coroner Manila Renee´ today ruled that the deaths of three Vincentian females and a Barbadian man back in 2017 was as a result of a vehicular accident.
The verdict was handed down after the Coroner, as well as family members, heard evidence from 16 persons as well as statements from several witnesses, in the five-day long inquiry, on what transpired on January 29, 2017.
The accident, a two-vehicle crash which occurred along the Graeme Hall section of the ABC Highway, claimed the life of 23-year-old Andre Jabarry Gittens of River Land, St Philip, who was the driver of the motorcar, as well as three of his five passengers - 17-year-old Danee´ Deverey Horne, 18-year-old Carianne Lee-New Padmore and 19-year-old Aziza Awanna Dennie of St Vincent and The Grenadines.
The driver of the other vehicle, a taxi, 52-year-old Kurtis Rock of Belleplaine, St Andrew and his four passengers, one of whom was never located by police, survived.
Following the verdict attorney-at-law for Gittens' family, Alvan Babb, expressed sincere condolences to the families of those who died in the tragedy.
“The family understands and appreciates the pain of your loss because they too have lost a loved one in Andre at this untimely moment. The family encourages you, as you try to move on with your lives, to seek comfort and solace from a higher place . . . . They have kept you in their prayers and sincerely hope that those persons affected by the deaths, including the driver of the taxi, find the strength of character to rise up, as [you] all try to close [that] chapter in your lives ,” the attorney said, as he read from the prepared speech. Gittens' mother who was crying during today's proceedings broke down and had to be consoled as the statement was read.
Seon Padmore, brother of the late Carianne Lee-New Padmore, who was in court with his mother and aunt, said his family continues to struggle with his sister's death.
“She [Carianne] was a bright prospect for us. She [my mother] does try to hold it down but she taking it hard still, well the whole family is,” Padmore said reporters following the verdict.
He, however, said that the inquiry “brought more clarity of what went down prior to the accident and during the accident and we just have to accept it really.”
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