Jovanno By Glenroy Sinclair,
Staff Reporter
THE DEATH of nine-year-old Jovanno Pryce has left a pall of sadness over the Southborough Primary School in St. Catherine, where he and his younger brother, Tevanno, attended school.
But last Friday was their final trip together. About 8:25 a.m. both boys were crossing Spanish Town Road when a Nissan van hit Jovanno. He died within minutes of being admitted to the Spanish Town Hospital.
His seven-year-old brother who witnessed his brother's death is still shaken, as are his parents. "All I want is some answers about my son's death. I would love to hear the driver's side of the story too. But up to yesterday the police said he was not in custody. I just don't know what was is going on," said Carlton Pryce, the boy's father.
"There is still some gloom here. He was a bright student, one of the best in his class," commented Carlyle Thompson, the principal of Southborough Primary.
The Constabulary Communication Network (CCN) confirmed the incident, but had little details. According to Pryce, based on eye-witness reports, two vehicles had stopped to allow the children to cross the busy road; however a Nissan van overtook one of the vehicles, hitting Jovanno in the process.
CCN said the driver and his lawyer are expected to turn up at the Hunts Bay Police Station today.
Meanwhile, according to Corporal Hubert Dennis of the Island's Police Traffic Headquarters in Kingston, since the start of the year 107 lives have been lost in 97 accidents. Victims include 85 males and 22 females. Twenty two of the victims are children.
Mr. Dennis said that a breakdown showed that 43 of those killed are pedestrians, 18 private motor car drivers, 15 pedal cyclists, nine motor cyclists, eight Private Motor Car passengers, seven Public Passenger Vehicle passengers and two pillion passengers.
