Ronald Miller (left), father of five-month-old Jaheim Miller; Jaheim's grandmother, Leasie Jackson (centre), and mother Sherine Campbell, in a sombre mood at their home in Sigon, Barrett Town, St. James, yesterday. Young Jaheim was crushed to death on Saturday night by a pickup, driven by Derrick Edwards, 35, of the same district. - Photo by Noel Thompson

Noel Thompson, Freelance Writer

WESTERN BUREAU:

Five-month-old Jah-eim Miller was killed and his 11-year-old cousin injured in a motor vehicle accident in Barrett Town, St. James, on Saturday night.

The 11-year-old child has since been hospitalised.

Thirty-five-year-old Derrick Edwards, who is hearing impaired, has been arrested in connection with the incident, which occured near the home of the baby.

The police say Orville McDowe gave his pickup to Mr. Edwards to wash. He was reversing the vehicle when it hit the 11-year-old boy who was holding his baby cousin at the time.

It is reported that the boy knocked on the vehicle to get Mr. Edwards's attention, but this was in vain.

Mr. Edwards has since been charged with driving without insurance and without a driver's licence.

Yesterday, the entire community of Barrett Town was in a state of bereavement. The infant's mother, Sherine Campbell, remembered the warmth of the last smile of her child.

"Mi need something to calm mi nerves," said Jaheim's father, Ronald Miller.

Mr. Miller, 35, is the father of four, Jaheim being the youngest. He left Jamaica to work as a chef in Palm Beach, Florida, on the day Jaheim was born. Only two months ago, he returned to spend some time with his new-born child.

"It is very hard but I have to be strong and face the reality," he said.

Jaheim's mother, Sherine Campbell, is a 23-year-old chef. She left the baby in the care of his nanny on Saturday. She said, while she was at work about 4:00 p.m., she had a strange feeling, which led her to believe that something was wrong. "I called my mother and asked her if everything was all right. She said yes."

A few hours later, a colleague broke the sad news to her. She fainted and had to be given medical attention.