The police have officially confirmed the death of a 16-month-old Italian child in an accident in the Trafalgar area on Thursday morning.
The mother of the child is a patient at the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of the Princess Margaret Hospital (PMH).
Police PRO, Sergeant Pelham Jno Baptiste said the child, Edoardo Antoniazzi, was pronounced dead at the PMH. He had arrived in Dominica on the cruise liner MSC Orchestra.
He said the infant was among a team of seven passengers who were traveling to the Trafalgar Falls on Toyota bus registration number HE597 which was being driven by Randolph Xavier, 67, of Eggleston.
“On arrival in an area known as Padu in Trafalgar, it is alleged that the driver lost control of the motor vehicle, collided with a concrete curb and as result the motor vehicle plunged into a precipice approximately 140 feet below on to a concrete secondary road which leads to the Padu Power Station,” Jno Baptiste explained. “All occupants of the motor vehicle sustained injuries. They were transported to the Accident and Emergency Department of the PMH by the Fire and Ambulance Service where they received medical attention.”
He said the Xavier was admitted to the hospital while the mother of the deceased infant, Alice Zanette, of Italy is receiving medical attention at the ICU.
Jno Baptiste said a coroner’s inquest will be convened and investigations into the cause of the motor vehicle accident are ongoing, Jno Baptiste said.
A statement from the cruise liner said at least four passengers had returned to the ship by Thursday evening.
These. Government. Is not doing enough. In D\A all they do is to go after innocent. People. Police coming at your home without. A warrent. That not right iam leaving in the united. States i love my country. But coming home. No change. Same situation. Give the young. People. Work mr president. And thingd will change
This is so sad and traumatic for those who were on the bus including the driver.
Imagine being on a vacation, far from home and this occurs.
Her family must be deeply saddened at what happened to the mother and the child.
She is in ICU. This means she is very injured. I hope she recovers.
I also hope the driver and other passengers recover from their injuries.
Alas.
Is police that confirming death these days?
may the 16 months child rest in peace [RIP]
Heart breaking!!!! Guardrails for all roads please
i made that statement about the guard rails yesterday and someone said i was arrogant. if the government would take time to look into the tourist attraction sites and roads leading to them they will do something about it. guard rails and police officers on sites too. all dangerous areas along the roads in Dominica should be guard railed. the country is not been taken care of at all.
This is a sad situation for everyone. However the facts of the matter is the driver should have displayed much more caution. Once you have gotten your license you realize you have a responsibility for yourself the next driver and also the passengers not forgetting pedestrians. From the moment one gets in a vehicle the drive should no longer think of himself herself but also of the other passengers.the driver is totally responsible for the people in your vehicle, they have trusted you with their wellbeing and so respect should be shown at all times. I am also sure that this is not the first time that the driver was driving along this road…. Now an innocent child’s life has been taken, the parents are in agony and more have witnessed a terrible ordeal…… Everyone suffers…. Precaution is better than cure… In my opinion the drivers licence should be taken forthwith for at least 5 years…. Not forgetting the other punishments. This is not the time for ALAS. The damage is done
My deepest condolences. May His Soul rest in peace.
He is a baby; no sins; an angel. He is surely resting in peace, in the arms and comfort of Our Loving God.
What ever happened my hearts goes out to the bus driver and all those involved in the accident. Praying that God provides them with the strength to go through this hurting moment.
This is such sad news. May Edoardo RIP. Speedy recovery to all involved.
This is sad to read. It is hard for everyone: the passengers, the driver and especially the parents of the infant. May you all find consolation at this time.
Very, very sad, my prayers goes out to everyone who was a passenger on the bus, especially to the injured and the family who lost there precious treasure. In God I trust.
The government needs to erect guardrails alongside the roads that border precipices. In Dominica, we often take things for granted. Too many vulnerable areas are left unprotected. The bus would not have plunged into the precipice and child could have survived if there was a guardrail in place.
You mean the Engineers who are in charge of the Roads Should ensure that there are Guard Rails to prevent such. The Government officals provides the money but the Engineers are the experts.
positive point
I saw you got some thumbs down without explanation…Sadly, guardrails are not optional in this country. they can’t even maintain the roads…
You are correct. It is more than time. The government should be lobbied to erect guard rails in those dangerous areas.
When accidents occur, drivers and passengers are plunged into the precipice. Those who survive are fortunate.
It would be expensive but is worth considering.
It should be a retaining wall.
I wish them all well my hart goes out the family, but to many times we see buses full of passengers and they are speeding trying to get back to pickup more people I know that’s how they make their living but they need to drive a little more careful and remember that they have lives onboard also some of these buses look very nice but I wonder who is inspecting them their brakes steering & suspension parts also tyres these things take a pounding on our roads every day I am not saying the driver or his bus was at fault but we need to pay attension to our road now we have a little better road we have to be more careful.
I too want to extend my condolences on the passing (one might say untimely passing) of the child involved. And sympathies extended to the unfortunate and injured. That said, I could not agree with you more, “Not a heard..”, of the need to truly make our roads safer by erecting the protections you identified. Our roads, even the more recently refurbished ones, are by their nature quite unsafe. And while the jury is still out as to whether the driver was reckless or not, our drivers generally think they are invincible and that if you take the slightest precaution to protect and preserve yourself – and other road users – as a driver (for example, by driving defensively and not over taking on the brow of a hill or around a bend), your are ridiculed as a lightweight: “You cannot drive, man; you coward.” I recall a young man, fresh out of State College laughing at me for faithfully wearing my seat belt. His retort, “Boy, allu Americans coward. We don’t wear that here. Hehehehe.”
While I understand ur need to make a point. Did u read the part of the concrete curb?