[UPDATED] Presbyterian minister's brother killed in Siparia hit-and-run

Joanas Dukhelin-Lalla, 66, was on his way home after buying bread from a nearby supermarket when he was hit by a car on Friday evening.

Dukhelin-Lalla, the grandfather of two, was on the pavement near where he lived on SS Erin Road, Siparia when he was knocked down.

The driver drove away but was later caught and arrested in Palo Seco.

Police report Dukhelin-Lalla was on the pavement near the Agro Tech compound, at about 5.30 pm, when he was struck by a Toyota wagon.

He was taken to the Siparia Health Facility and transferred to the San Fernando General Hospital, where he died at 8.30 pm.

His sister, former moderator of the Presbyterian Church the Rev Annabell Lalla-Ramkelawan, commenting on his death on Saturday, said these were times where human life has no value.

"Imagine, my brother was on the pavement, walking home, when he was knocked down and this man drove off. There is no respect and no value for human life any more."

The minister said people were behaving worse than the "beasts of the forests."

"It shows that we are not our brother's keeper, and this is really sad," she said.

Lalla-Ramkelawan, who lives in Cunupia, said she last spoke to her brother on Tuesday.

"I got a phone call on Friday that he was hit by a car. My brother was loving and kind. Everyone who knew him loved him."

Dukhelin-Lalla lived with his 88-year-old mother, whom he cared for.
An autopsy will be done on Monday.
Siparia CID is investigating.

This story has been updated with additional details. It was originally published under the title Siparia man killed in hit-and-run accident.

A 66-year-old man died after he was hit by a car while standing on the pavement in Siparia on Friday evening.

Police identified the victim as Jonas Lalla, of SS Erin Road, Siparia. An eyewitness said the driver drove off after the accident but was later arrested by police in Palo Seco.

According to a police report, Jonas was standing on the pavement near the Agro Tech compound, around 5.30 pm, when he was struck by a Toyota wagon.

Lalla was taken to the Siparia Health Facility and later transferred to San Fernando General Hospital where he died at 8.30 pm. The CID is investigating.