Mawootee Somrah, a 71 year old woman, met a tragic end early Monday morning, March 21, in Beau-Vallon. The resident of Villeneuve, Mahébourg, affectionately called Mantee by her relatives, was crossing the road not far from Beau-Vallon Mall to wait before being driven to a plantation when she was hit head-on by an SUV. She did not survive her injuries.
It was around 5:30 a.m. on Monday morning, March 21, when the accident occurred. The septuagenarian, who was walking towards Beau-Vallon Mall, was crossing to take a transport to go to her workplace in Blue-Bay. At the same time, a 4 x 4, coming from the direction of Plaine-Magnien and driving towards Mahébourg, hit her and the impact was so brutal that the victim was thrown for several meters and died on the spot.
Her body was taken to the Victoria Hospital morgue in Candos for an autopsy. The autopsy, performed by Dr. Prem Chamane, Principal Police Medical Officer, attributed her death to multiple injuries. The victim, a widow for over five years, was the mother of six children, including a son.
The driver of the SUV, a 24-year-old man from Mahébourg, was taken to the Blue-Bay Police Station for a breathalyzer test by an Emergency Response Service officer, which was negative. He was arrested on a charge of reckless homicide. He chose to give his statement in the presence of a law enforcement officer prior to his appearance in the Mahébourg court.
