'She Was Treated Like a Criminal as She Lay Dying on the Road'
The heart-wrenching words of Saphiatu, mother of Soriah Barry, echo the family's profound grief and outrage over the handling of her daughter's fatal accident. Soriah, a promising singer, died following a collision with a double-decker bus on Lea Bridge Road in Clapton in February last year, but her family insists her life could have been saved with proper care and compassion.
A Tragic Scene of Neglect
As Soriah lay dying on the road for nearly two hours, witnesses filmed her and uploaded footage to social media, while police officers were heard discussing whether to 'nick' her. The family argues that this response, captured on bodycam footage, reflects a critical failure in emergency protocols. Saphiatu told Metro: 'She was treated like a criminal at the scene, rather than with care and compassion. We do not blame anyone else for the actual crash, but Soriah's life could have been saved.'
Delayed Medical Response and Disturbing Details
The incident unfolded when Soriah's car, which her family believes she accidentally accelerated instead of braking, crashed into a bus, increasing speed from 23mph to 30mph in seconds. Bystanders, including witness Curtis Chrissafi, rushed to help, with 999 operators guiding them to lift her from the vehicle as she drifted in and out of consciousness. However, once police and paramedics arrived, the urgency seemed to dissipate. Neighbors observed a lack of prompt action, exacerbated by the discovery of empty alcohol bottles and gas cannisters in the car, though toxicology reports confirmed Soriah was well below the legal limit.
Saphiatu explained that the items were from a weekend trip, as the Airbnb required guests to take their rubbish home. On bodycam footage, a police officer discusses arresting Soriah, and a paramedic sarcastically remarks 'surprise, surprise' upon seeing the bottles, further distressing the family.
Critical Delays and Fatal Consequences
After being loaded into an ambulance, Soriah went into cardiac arrest and was driven through rush hour traffic to The Royal London Hospital, arriving two hours post-crash. Her family contends that earlier departure could have avoided this delay. Saphiatu arrived before her daughter, waiting in family rooms until a surgeon delivered the devastating news that nothing more could be done. During surgery for a lacerated liver, Soriah suffered three more cardiac arrests, leading to her death.
Family's Ongoing Grief and Police Apology
The family continues to mourn Soriah, with her room kept untouched and photos adorning their home. Apple Music has expressed interest in uploading her songs in her memory. Saphiatu lamented: 'We just wish she was still here. Her goddaughter misses her, and her brother has had a baby girl. She would have loved having them around.'
The Metropolitan Police issued an apology for the insensitive remarks on bodycam footage, stating that while the comments were not discriminatory, they were distressing. Detective Chief Superintendent Brittany Clarke noted that a complaint was assessed and deemed the officers' service acceptable, with no further review pursued by the family.
This tragic case highlights urgent questions about emergency response protocols and the need for compassion in critical situations, as a family grapples with an irreplaceable loss.
