Sunday-morning accident on Friars Hill Road leaves two AUA students seriously injured; hit-and-run driver turns himself in

The husband of a prominent judicial officer reportedly is facing serious charges, as two American University of Antigua students fight for their lives in the Intensive Care Unit of the Sir Lester Bird Medical Centre.
 
Reports say the students had just left the Stratos Lounge and Bar, and were crossing the Friars Hill Road, when they were struck by a vehicle shortly after 2 a.m. on Sunday, October 23.
  
According to reports, instead of stopping the vehicle to offer assistance to the injured students – a 19-year-old female from Dubai and a 21-year-old man from Qatar – the driver kept on his way.

Further reports say he returned later, as police officers were taking measurements and processing the scene, in the company of a well-known attorney.
 
On Sunday night, unconfirmed reports said he was released from police custody after assisting with investigations and is to go before the court on Tuesday morning.

However, the Police have confirmed that the man is facing charges of leaving the scene of an accident and dangerous driving. A more serious charge could also follow, given the critical condition of the two accident victims.
 
Sources say the 45-year-old man was driving north, reportedly on his way home after having left the police canteen, when the accident occurred.

Reports say the impact nearly severed one of the female’s arms and that it could not be saved, although she spent several hours in surgery, coming out after 6 p.m. on Sunday.
 
The male student reportedly sustained a serious head injury and his condition is said to be grave.
 
Meanwhile, a video in circulation shows a number of persons offering assistance to the two injured students at the side of the highway.
 
Friars Hill Road has seen a number of serious and fatal accidents over these several months, and many residents are blaming the Government for the absence of lights since the roadway has been repaired.

One woman says the Administration “must take responsibility for every death on that dark, dark road,” since so many complaints have been made for the year. “All they ever do is talk, talk, talk about lighting programmes, and the place still dark as ever,” she declares angrily.

She cites the Sir George Walter Highway as another danger spot, owing to the absence of lights since it was repaired. “What will it take to get the lights on? What are they waiting for: more people to die?” the outraged mother asks.
 
Two women were hit and killed on the Friars Hill Road this year, with the last victim being a Yorks villager, Greta “Dolly “Barton, 85, who suffered from Alzheimer’s disease.  
 
She became the eighth road fatality in September.