5th victim dies from Monday’s traffic accident

A fifth victim in Monday’s horrific traffic accident has died. Twenty-year-old Kareem Griffith, the driver of the Kia truck, succumbed to his injuries just after nine this morning at the K.H.M.H. According to hospital authorities, Griffith not only fractured two of his legs, but sustained severe head trauma, chest injuries and a ruptured spleen. Griffith, who worked for Vision Builders Limited of Belmopan, was transporting twelve of his co-workers to Belize City when a Geo Tracker, driven by a U.S. tourist, crashed into the truck. The collision not only killed the smaller vehicle’s driver and passenger, but Carlos Obido, who was travelling in the pan of the truck, also died on the spot. Another passenger in the pan, Elias Leiva, died later at the Belmopan Hospital. Presently, eight of the construction workers remain at the K.H.M.H., while two are receiving care at the Belmopan Hospital. According to K.H.M.H. authorities, of all their patients, only the condition of Melvin Rodriguez has worsened. Rodriguez, who was sitting in the truck’s cab, sustained severe head trauma and other internal injuries. Not responding to treatment, he is unable to breathe on his own and remains on a life support machine.