Traffic accident claims life of teenager

A seventeen year old resident of Blackman Eddy Village is dead after being knocked down by a vehicle on the Western Highway. Andrew Ireland was riding his bicycle home from Ontario Village at around 7:00 on Wednesday night when, near mile sixty, he was struck by a Jeep Cherokee being driven by Richard Westby of Belize City. According to residents, Westby was trying to overtake when he noticed another vehicle coming from the opposite direction. When Westby realised that he could not make it, he pulled back on the road, and that’s witnesses say he hit Ireland, who was riding in the same direction. Ireland was initially treated for severe head and body injuries at the San Ignacio hospital and was later transferred to the K.H.M.H., where he died. Westby is being questioned by police.