My report, as in diary of Nov 21

November 16: ....no photos....just couldn't bring myself to use camera:  I was on way back to Ricci School after lunch visit to home of new baby in Mok Gong....about to cross highway not far from railway station ...when I came across terrible accident that had happened only five minutes before:  a huge sand truck and a motorcycle had collided.   Nine year old primary three boy (not one of our students) on back of bike was thrown to road and died instantly from massive head injuries...his skull was wide open and his whole brain was on road beside his head.  His father had been taking him to school for start of afternoon session (2.30pm).   Father has broken pelvis and is local San Mao Hospital for a month.

If boy had been wearing a helmet......probably no serious injury. We are now campaigning for all (our) children to wear helmets...and to hang on...often see tiny un-helmeted children (some not yet three years old) perched on back and not hanging on.  Majority of adults who wear helmets leave them un-strapped.  We hope to get racing cyclist type helmets that can be carried easily (..anyone like to help?...)

At scene of accident there were dozens of onlookers, but not one helper (..."not the custom"..."best not to get involved"..."you might be targeted for retaliation for helping police"...."too troublesome"....).  Hundreds of cars, trucks, buses, bikes kept passing by, but no one stopped.
Father was (most understandably) weeping and howling in middle of road beside his son's dead body.
I took his hand....rang police (..long time coming...close to 15 minutes..) helped father ring his wife (..his phone not working)...she came...and I had two hands to hold. I got them to hold each others hands to support each other...praying all the time for the Lord to give them courage.

Ambulance came....nurse and ambulance man took one look at body and drove off....all without a word to parents....also not a word from police....after nearly 30 minutes of agony, a truck from crematorium came....body was put in box....man used one hand to pick up brain and put it with body....parents inconsolable.

Eventually kind policeman drove parents and me  to nearby San Mao hospital where after x-rays and sounds tests, father was admitted.
Mother all the time weeping loudly...especially when her sister came.  I phoned HK Ling and she came to hospital to  support the parents.
I'm now visiting father each day....gave him a New Testament the second day to  give him courage.

Huge need for developing China:  paramedics/ counselors for situations like this  + more traffic lights + enforcement of helmet laws + a reversal of present trend - most noticeable in past year - for traffic in Zhaoqing to be more and more  Wild West.

Thank you for prayers for this very sad family.
Should add:  deceased boy has a younger brother, about 3 months old...who DV...will give his parents the will to keep going