Eleven-year-old Jadon Long was knocked down and killed minutes after registering as a new pupil at the St Augustine Secondary School yesterday.
According to police, Long, of Dinsley Gardens, Arouca, stepped out of a maxi taxi on the Priority Bus Route at the corner of Dinsley Junction around 10.30 am.
Police said, in attempting to cross the road Long stepped into the path of an oncoming 25-seater maxi which was heading east. Long was taken to the Eric Williams Medical Sciences Complex where he was pronounced dead on arrival.
When journalists visited his home yesterday his parents said they were in a state of shock and could not speak. Long's uncle, Gary Cordner, said he received the worst birthday gift after hearing that his protege had died.
"He liked the music and would ask me to teach him a few things with the guitar. I made it to the semi-finals of the National Political Calypso Monarch Competition (held at Skinner Park, San Fernando, tomorrow) and I rehearsed crying," Cordner said, adding that he would be dedicating his performance to his nephew.
"He was a special youth, the kind of youth that we need in the country today. When I hear that, it just suck out all my energy. Today is my birthday. What a birthday gift," Cordner said, as he took a long pull from his cigarette before throwing it away.
In a telephone interview, Assistant Commissioner of Police (Mobile) Deodath Dulalchan, said Long’s death had taken the road fatality toll to 74 for the year, ten less than the corresponding period last year.
Dulalchan said as recently as last month his officers had been educating commuters on the dangers of crossing the road in a disorderly manner and general road use rules. He questioned if people were just ignoring the road rules.
"Now I am not going to cast aspersions here about who is right and wrong but we are still seeing people crossing the roads using their cell phones and listening to music. Drivers are still not paying attention at major intersections," Dulalchan said, adding that having the right of way should not mean ignoring road safety.
"We still have situations where people are driving at excessive speeds. They need to slow down, especially with the rainy season upon us and they need to ensure that the vehicles are roadworthy with tyres and wipers working. They need to take into account when rain is falling the road surface is more slippery and can contribute to vehicles swerving off the roadway. And equally, we can’t overemphasise that both pedestrians and road users take responsibility for their safety."