Cayo Resident Clinging to Life Following RTA

Bernard McLaren

A San Ignacio resident is tonight clinging to life at the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital after he was hit by a vehicle that did not stop. Fifty year old Bernard McLaren, known in the west as the bread and bun man, is a self-employed father of three children. McLaren had just visited his kids and was heading home when he was hit by a white vehicle. The driver did not stop to render assistance. The impact fractured twelve of his ribs and punctured his lungs. McLaren is now on life support in the hospital and today his common-law wife, Dawnette Elijio and his sister, Yolanda Smith, came to News Five asking for justice, and assistance in locating the driver of the vehicle. 

Yolanda Smith, Sister of Hit & Run Victim

“After nine, I get a phone call saying that my brother got knocked down, hit and run, and the driver not even stop to render aid. And I just want him to see this, what he did to my brother and the condition that he is in. And I hope that he has a heart; come out and render aid or come out and do something, assist the family with something. Come and check with the wife and children.”

Yolanda Smith

Duane Moody

“Where was he coming from when he was hit?”

Yolanda Smith

“From his children’s home, the house of his children.”

Duane Moody

“…And out of nowhere, this vehicle came and knocked him?”

Yolanda Smith

“Yes, I don’t know if it is before the bridge or on the bridge, but he knows where he did the hit and run. All we want is him to come out. I am mad, I’m mad because my brother is critical, you know. I hope he is watching.”

Duane Moody

“Talk to us about the injuries that your brother sustained.”

Yolanda Smith

“He has about…his ribs, he has about twelve broken ribs, his lungs punctured and he can’t ever breathe on his own.”

Duane Moody

“What are the doctors saying?”

Yolanda Smith

“He is critical and he has a blood clot on the brains. So right now they are monitoring him and taking a lot of tests. So I just hope this person is watching and I want him to look at this and see what he has done and come out.”

Dawnette Elijio

Duane Moody

“Are the police saying anything in reference to what has happened or if they are anywhere closer to who could have done this?”

Dawnette Elijio, Common-law Wife

“Presently I don’t have any information on that, so I can’t say for now. But all we are asking is that the person who hit Bernard, please contact his family. This man had a life, he has his children to take care of. He was a positive person in society so I’d like to seek justice for him.”