Hayes crash victim dies after seven months in hospital

After fighting for her life from a hospital bed for seven months, 16-year-old Kayanna Williams died at the University Hospital of the West Indies yesterday from injuries sustained in a June 2021 car accident in Hayes, Clarendon.

Williams was among nine youngsters aboard a Nissan AD wagon that crashed into a utility pole in the community. She is the fourth person to have died as a result of the crash. Kevaughn Salmon, 21, his 17-year-old cousin Janoy Blair, and Dante Johnson perished in the crash, which was blamed on the security forces.

Adrianna Williams, Kayanna's elder sister, described her sister as a fighter. She shared that she believed Kayanna would have recovered.

"I gave up my whole life trying to save her. I lost her ....I lost myself today," she told THE STAR yesterday evening.

"She fought hard ...she really did. I'm at a loss [for words]....the whole family is. I never expected this. I would never imagine having to live without her... I don't know how," said the grieving sister.

Family members said that she had blood clots in her brain, a broken arm, a damaged lung, a broken pelvis, and had been unconscious since the accident on June 12.

According to the police, about 8:55 p.m., on the day of the incident, a team of officers was conducting spot check in the area when they signalled the driver of a Nissan AD Wagon motor car to stop. They said that the driver disobeyed and sped away, causing them to go in search of the vehicle.

The police said that while searching the area they came upon a crash site where several persons converged. On approach of the team, shots were reportedly fired at them, the officers returned fire; however, no one received gunshot injuries.

The police said that when the shooting subsided, eight persons who were identified as occupants of the car were seen with injuries sustained from the crash; they were taken to hospital for treatment.

Residents in Hayes mounted a fiery protest following the accident, refuting the police's account of the incident.

Williams contends that someone should be held accountable for Kayanna's death.

"I would like some justice for my sister. I would like someone to be held accountable for her life. She was a smart intelligent beautiful girl, who did not deserve to just suffer and die," she bemoaned.