Yovana, Daughter of the Mootoo-Caroopen Couple: ‘The Car Was Drifting, It Appeared Right in Front of Them’

On Sunday, Kaylasson Mootoo-Caroopen, aged 72, joined his wife Rajinee, 62, who passed away five days earlier. They were united in a tragic fate on the Southern Highway at Gros Billot–New Grove on the evening of Wednesday, January 21. The couple leaves behind a devastated family.

Their son, Romish Criss, who was about to celebrate his 40th birthday this year, is in intensive care. He regained consciousness on Sunday, January 25, but remains unaware that his parents have died and that his sister Karishma, 40, who was injured, is hospitalized.

Yovana, who urgently returned to Mauritius from Australia upon learning of this tragedy, is gathering courage and strength to confront this dramatic situation. Life has robbed her of her parents, and she is calling for awareness regarding the reckless behavior of drivers who plunge families into mourning. "We need stricter laws for such individuals; change is necessary. Families should not have to lose their children or parents due to the irresponsible actions of such individuals," she asserts. She recounts her sister Karishma's testimony, a survivor of the tragedy. "My sister told us that in the van, she asked our parents what that noise was, and she could hear someone drifting on the road. Just two minutes after she said that, the car appeared in front of them, right in front of the van driver."

The collision was violent, with a Toyota Aqua hitting the van. The van driver lost control of the vehicle. "The van driver lost control, went into a ditch, and the car rolled over; my dad cried out the name of Jesus, and then everything went dark."

The collision was horrific and fatal. Rajinee died instantly. Her husband Kaylasson and their son Romish Criss, who were seriously injured, are under observation in the intensive care unit at Jawaharlal Nehru Hospital in Rose-Belle, while their daughter Karishma is also hospitalized. The van driver, Sanjay Bhurosy, was taken to the hospital as well. The driver of the Toyota Aqua, Rajeev Khawal, who collided with them, emerged unscathed. He has been arrested by the police and is charged with involuntary manslaughter while being held in custody.

Yovana is furious about what she sees as reckless driving. "Due to his irresponsibility, my mom lost her life; she died on the spot, my dad has passed away, my brother is out of ICU, but still in a coma; he suffered cranial injuries and a vertebra in his neck is broken," Yovana laments. "Thank God he can move his hand."

This accident has shattered an entire family’s life. "We were a happy family; my mom was the joy of life, very social, and my dad was a spiritual guide in church; they were both good people, and no one has anything bad to say about my mom or dad," Yovana shares.

Call for Witnesses
What are the exact circumstances of this fatal collision on the Gros-Billot highway? The family of the late Mootoo-Caroopen couple, through their daughter Yovana, is calling on all individuals present on the highway that day to provide their testimony to the Rose-Belle police.
"I am making a call for witnesses. If anyone has dashcam footage of this accident or if anyone was on that road and saw how that driver was driving dangerously, and how his actions took my parents' lives, please come forward. Think about how this accident could have happened to your mom or dad. I wish someone would come forward and say, 'I was a witness.' I am seeking justice for my dad and mom," pleads their devastated daughter, who is now living in Australia.