Security guard killed when gate collapses

A Belize City man is dead following an unusual accident this morning at a government office compound. News 5’s Jacqueline Woods has more.

Calvin Neal, Junior, Son of the Deceased
?Anytime you want him to work, he is the one that they go to get. And everybody was so shocked that that happened this morning just suddenly.?

Jacqueline Woods, Reporting
Seventy-five year old Calvin Neal, Senior, a K.B.H. security guard, was crushed to death shortly after he reported to work at the Mahogany Street complex when the compound?s main gate fell on top of him. Calvin Neal, Junior says he understands that his dad had just slid open the gate when the accident occurred.

Calvin Neal, Jr.
?A couple of guys that deal with the taxi stand out there know me very good and one of them explained to me that they mi di try help him fi open the slide gate this morning. And after he had slide the gate open, he one was left there–because he usually find a piece of string to tie the gate unto the fence. That is when the incident occurred, they say the gate let go and dropped on him.?

Neal was knocked unconscious and blood was coming from his mouth. The family says it is a tragic accident, but one they believe could have been avoided. Neal says they have been informed that it is not the first time the gate has given problems.

Calvin Neal, Jr.
?They were always complaining that the gate is always hard to open and nothing has been done about it. So I want to see now what will be done about it now that my father has been killed by that said gate. And the people them that is responsible for the building has not even had the decency to contact us. We are waiting for them to contact us, because that is a life that has been taken.?

It is believed that one of the supports broke and caused the gate to collapse. Jacqueline Woods for News Five.

Neal was stationed at the Mahogany Street Complex for approximately four years.