In April, Mohan and Rawati Singh were injured while sitting on a swing when a pickup backed into them. Mohan, 34, spent a week in the hospital. Rawati, 41, died Sunday.
By ANDREW J. SKERRITT
Published June 5, 2004
Rawati Singh and her husband, Mohan, of Spring Hill were picnicking with friends in Orlando on an April evening. The couple sat on a swing when, without warning, they were struck by a pickup driven in reverse.
"It was truly one of those freak things," said Florida Highway Patrol Trooper Kim Miller in Orlando. "I have never heard of a crash like this. It was sad. They were sitting and having a good time and something like this happens."
Mohan Singh, 34, spent a week at Orlando Regional Hospital and was released. His wife never came home. Mrs. Singh died at Orlando Regional on Sunday (May 30, 2004). She was 41.
As family members prepared to attend Hindu rites cremation services Friday, Mrs. Singh was remembered as a loving wife, dedicated homemaker and excellent cook.
"She liked to fix up her house and prepare Indian food," Mr. Singh said of his wife of 15 years.
Mrs. Singh was a native of Guyana and lived in Spring Hill for almost two years. For the past five months, she worked as a certified nurse's assistant at the Residence at Timber Pines on Commercial Way.
"We considered her a valuable employee," said Joan Schonborn, director of nursing at the assisted living facility. "She was a wonderful employee. We are very upset about what happened."
At 7:16 p.m. April 24, the Singhs were sitting in a swing on the front yard patio during a visit to the home of Ravindra and Sucilla Ramdhan in Orlando, Trooper Miller said.
Ravindra Ramdhan backed up his 1994 Mazda pickup truck so others in the group could sit on the tailgate. Blocked by a stump in the yard, he pressed the gas to get over it. The pickup went airborne and hit those sitting on the swing, Miller said.
Sucilla Ramdhan, 31, jumped off and escaped with minor injuries. The Singhs were not so fortunate.
"They were having a picnic," Miller said. "It was just a weird thing. We don't believe alcohol played a role. It was a simple accident."
Miller said she doesn't expect any charges to be filed against the driver.
