Two foreign students enrolled at American University of Antigua (AUA) College of Medicine are fighting for their lives at Sir Lester Bird Medical Centre after they were struck by a vehicle early Sunday morning on Friars Hills Road.
The students’ names were unknown up to press time, but their ages are 19 and 21.
Head of the Royal Police Force of Antigua and Barbuda’s Traffic Department, ASP Rodney Ellis, confirmed that the students left the Stratos Lounge and Bar on the compound of Billy’s Food Mart at 2:15am when they were struck by a northbound vehicle as they walked along Friars Hill Road toward their vehicle.
The students are now warded in the Intensive Care Unit of the Sir Lester Bird Medical Centre.
The 19- year-old woman’s arm was severed in the collision and has reportedly been amputated due to the severity of the injury.
A 17-second mobile phone video has since gone viral showing the students, who are both Asian, lying on the grass surrounded by people who were trying to render assistance to them.
The 45-year-old male driver of the vehicle which struck the students fled the scene following the accident.
He surrendered himself to the police sometime after. Pointe Xpress was informed that he was accompanied by his lawyer when he returned.
His name has not yet been revealed by the police, however, unconfirmed reports indicate that he is the spouse of a judicial officer.
The charges the driver will face include leaving the scene of an accident, however Rodney said no charges will be laid until the investigation is complete.
He has, meanwhile, made an urgent appeal to the Antigua Public Utilites Authority (APUA) to hasten its street lighting programme, including along the Friars Hill Road.
Last week, APUA’s general manager, Esworth Martin, reported to the Cabinet that increasing street lighting in several areas, including Friars Hill Road, is a priority of the country’s lone utilities provider.
