At Bel-Ombre: Koressiah Mauthoor, 57, Killed in an Accident
A tragic road accident claimed the life of Koressiah Mauthoor on Sunday, January 4, 2026, in Bel-Ombre. The 57-year-old resident of Pailles was driving a blue Kia with her son Irfaan Mauthoor when a violent collision with a Suzuki occurred, disrupting their family gathering. The accident took place around 6 PM at the entrance of a hotel on the island's west coast. The driver of the Suzuki has been placed in police custody and was charged on Monday.
"We have family visiting from abroad, so we organized a family outing," said a family member who wished to remain anonymous. They were heading towards Le Morne when the tragedy struck. "I was in a car following the Kia. We stopped at a traffic light and fell a few minutes behind her. By the time we caught up, it was already too late: the accident had already happened," she explained. A Suzuki was exiting the hotel entrance to merge onto the main road when it collided with the Kia, where the victim was seated in the passenger seat. Her son was driving, accompanied by his wife and their one-year-old child. "The Suzuki came onto the main road. The Kia tried to avoid it, but still collided before crashing into a tree on the side of the road," explained another relative. The Kia ended up against a coconut tree on the right side of the road heading towards Baie-du-Cap.
Volunteers intervened to provide first aid. "We stopped, and she was lying on the ground, waiting for help," continued the relative. Koressiah Mauthoor was initially taken by SAMU to Souillac Hospital before being transferred to the Neuro ICU at Dr. Jeetoo Hospital. Despite the medical teams' efforts, she passed away on January 5 in the early hours. An autopsy conducted on Monday attributed her death to multiple injuries. Her son, who was driving, suffered a fractured arm. Both the child and mother received medical care.
The driver of the Suzuki, a Canadian national residing in Grand-Baie, was detained at the Bel-Ombre police station. Breathalyzer tests conducted on both drivers returned negative results. The vehicles sustained significant damage and were towed for investigation purposes.
The violence of the crash has left the Mauthoor family in shock. The victim is described as a loving and cheerful person. "A few years ago, she suffered a stroke. It affected her right side, but she could always make herself understood," confided a relative, her voice filled with emotion.
Bel-Ombre police are continuing the investigation to clarify all circumstances surrounding the accident and to interview witnesses. The involved driver appeared in Souillac court facing a provisional charge of involuntary manslaughter.
