An 11 year old student of St. Matthews Government School was knocked down yesterday after 3:00. Tezzrah Diamond Thompson came off the bus with her schoolmates at the entrance of Mahogany Heights. But when she emerged from in front of the bus to cross the road she was hit by a truck. It's a truly tragic story and today we went to speak with Tezzrah's grandmother and she told us that she was coming from work when she saw her granddaughter thrown on the side of the road.
Courtney Weatherburne reporting
This was Tezzrah's favorite song. She would perform her version of that song almost every day after school for her grandmother.
But yesterday she didn't make it home to serenade her grandmother. Instead her grandmother found her mangled body on the side of the road.
Linda Williams, Grandmother
"I was coming from school yesterday in the evening about 3:30, in our school bus when I saw a crowd at the junction for Mahogany Heights and when I took a look I saw a child, but when I look at the shoulder I realize that it's my granddaughter's shoulder. I said "God," I said mercy, please don't tell me that it's my granddaughter. I said please, please, tell me it's not my granddaughter. But then when the bus slowed down I took another look and I realized that it was my granddaughter and her face was covered with blood."
Many school kids and parents were near the bus shed when it happened. One witness told the grandmother that this white truck hit Tezzrah as she stepped out to cross the highway.
Linda Williams, Grandmother
"She came off the school bus and a lot of children ran across the street. So they said a friend was calling her telling her to come while another was telling her to come and hold her hand. But the minute she moved forward, they say that's when the vehicle hit her."
A paramedic and a student nurse who were traveling on another bus came off and tried to save little Tezzrah's life. They stayed there with her until her mother came to take her to the hospital. But she didn't make it - She died at the KHMH early this morning. Now the family has to cope with the tragedy of losing their little Diamond.
Linda Williams, Grandmother
"She is a very jovial person, very strong minded and we always find time to discuss what she would like to be when she becomes older. She said that she wants to be an accountant, because she said she loves to work with money and I know that I can. She said that's why she is the treasurer for her class."
Those dreams have now been crushed by what Williams says is systematic neglect of the community.
Linda Williams, Grandmother
"I was the first chairperson for this community and I have asked for a health post in our community and we just asked for one nurse and we haven't had that health post. We also asked for speed bumps on the highway and we have not received those speed bumps. What is the government waiting for? The past did not do it and the present do not think that we need speed bumps in our community."
But, now, no speedbump or health center will bring back little Tezzrah.
The truck driver, Jose Rodriguez has been charged with manslaughter by negligence, causing death by careless conduct and driving without due care and attention. When we spoke to police they told us that it's an unfortunate case where the child did not look both ways before crossing but still, they say, that the driver should have slowed down especially since a school bus was parked on the side.
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