The 18-year-old driver accused of slamming his car into a group of family members, killing a mother of three, has claimed he was trying to escape after being attacked by them. Police said the driver claimed the family blocked his car and assaulted him and his father. Darling Arjoon, 48, of Brothers Road, New Grant, was killed and seven members of her family injured after being struck by the car during an incident at Bristol Village, Mayaro, last Saturday.
The family members, about 12 of them, were in three cars heading to the beach to celebrate Arjoon and her son’s birthday when the road rage incident allegedly occurred. Arjoon’s sister is still warded at the Sangre Grande Hospital in a stable condition.
Last Sunday, Arjoon’s husband Primnath Churkoo called for justice after he heard that the driver was released from custody.
Contacted on the matter, detectives told the Sunday Guardian that the investigation was at a sensitive stage. They said the teenager gave police a statement in which he claimed he and Arjoon’s family were involved in an incident at Rio Claro which culminated in Mayaro.
The teen claimed when they got to Mayaro the family blocked his car with their cars and began beating him and his father. He claimed his father was also pulled out of the car and beaten. The teenager told police he was trying to escape when the accident that led to Arjoon’s death occurred.
Conflicting stories
However, Churkoo has denied this version of the events. Churkoo claimed the teenager bounced his son’s car while they were on their way to the beach and got angry when his son pulled alongside him to speak to him about the accident. Churkoo said the teenager began cursing them, “revving up” his car and driving back and forth. He said they (his family) came out of their cars and were standing on the side of the road.
He said the teenager then reversed and struck his wife, other family members and his (Churkoo’s) car. On impact, he said Arjoon’s body was thrown into the bushes. He said his wife died in his arms while he was taking her to the hospital. An autopsy revealed that Arjoon died from blunt force thoracic trauma. Ag Cpl Douglas of the Mayaro Police Station is investigating.