Simeon Payne, a resident of Kelbourney, may consider himself very lucky to be alive after being struck by a vehicle last Sunday, August 21.{{more}}

When SEARCHLIGHT visited the Milton Cato Memorial Hospital on Monday, the day after the accident, 23-year-old Payne was nursing serious injuries to various parts of his body, including the pelvic area and shoulder.

It was reported that Payne was walking along the Prospect main road around 9:00 p.m., a short distance from Gitt’s supermarket, when a jeep, traveling on the opposite side of the road (from the direction of Kingstown), struck the young man.

SEARCHLIGHT understands that the man was pinned under the vehicle, and according to family members, was rescued by some men in the area.

Nathalie Payne, sister of the accident victim, told SEARCHLIGHT that she got the call shortly after midnight.

“If it wasn’t for those guys on the block, he might have been dead today,” Nathalie Payne lamented.

“Right now he is in a lot of pain: there is still some bleeding,” she related.

Cousin Julian Payne said that all he wanted for his injured relative was justice.

“I just want the person to be honest and to say that it was a mistake,” the man said.

When SEARCHLIGHT contacted the Traffic Department, we were told to contact the Calliaqua Police, who are in charge of the investigations. However, all of the officers who had been on duty over the weekend were unavailable for comment. (DD)