2 weeks ago
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Senior Multimedia Reporter
Despite repeated pleas from his father to stay home, 18-year-old Adrian Neemah went out with his 36-year-old friend Rondell Mungroo — a decision that ended in tragedy when both men were killed in a crash in Charlieville, Chaguanas, yesterday.
The two were among five people killed in four road accidents over the weekend.
Speaking to Guardian Media yesterday at her Solomon Street, Vistabella home, Lindsay Neemah recalled how her husband, Barry, had asked their son not to go out just hours before the accident.
She said the two had been drinking before they left.
“He turned 18 in April and finished school last year at San Fernando Open Bible,” she said.
“He was supposed to get a job as an attendant at the San Fernando General Hospital. He was also going to get a job as a data clerk at the URP office.”
Adrian had celebrated his 18th birthday in April and received his first iPhone as a gift from his godmother, Sasha Ali.
His mother yesterday said they tried to get him to stay home.
“His dad told him to stay home, but he said, ‘Daddy, I’m just going up the road to lime with Rondell,’ who was his friend.”
The two were reportedly going to meet Rondell’s girlfriend at Heartland Plaza, Chaguanas just after 1.30 am. Neemah was a passenger in Rondell’s car.
“We don’t know exactly what happened, but the whole car was smashed up.”
She added, “Rondell was driving fast, lost control, and flew off the highway. The car hit a tree, and the impact uprooted the tree. There was a lot of force.”
She had a message for the nation’s drivers.
“I want to say to drivers to stay safe and don’t take chances.”
Meanwhile, Ali, who is also the councillor for Marabella South/Vistabella, called for responsible road safety.
She said, “I am really grateful that they are extending the drinking age to 21. A lot of our children still have to grow and mature. Although you are 18, you still don’t understand the world and the implications of what can happen out there.”
She called on youths to exercise care.
“I know you are young and think you know it all, and you want your freedom, but listen to your parents. Sometimes, not listening to your parents is what gets you into trouble. You might think you have a world of friends, but sometimes those friends are really not your friends,” the grieving mother said.
“To all the children out there, I urge you to practice safety, be careful of the friends you keep, and ensure that when you go out to lime, you have a designated driver who is sober and can get you home safely. If not, you could end up in a situation like what we are facing today.”
Meanwhile, a neighbour, who requested anonymity, said she was driving behind Mungroo and saw when he lost control. She, however, denied he was drinking.
In another incident on Friday night in Penal, relatives of Habib John said he had also been drinking when he left to drop off pensioner Ann Marie Codrington-Mitchell. They were walking along an unlit part of the road when a van struck them.
John, 37, pushed the pensioner away to avoid her being hit. He died at the scene, while Codrington-Mitchell remains hospitalised in stable condition.
English (US) ·