Father and Stepson Killed in Fatal Accident in Georgeville

Lionel Chavarria Sr. & Charles Jones Jr.

Two men from one family died in a vehicle pileup over the weekend. The deadly accident has left a family grieving in the west – and they say it was reckless driving that took their loved ones away. News Five’s Reporter Andrea Polanco headed west this morning to find out more. Here’s the story.

Andrea Polanco, Reporting

A Georgeville family is mourning the loss of two family members. Lionel Chavarria Senior and his step-son Charles Jones Junior died in a road traffic accident on Friday evening. It happened here on the George Price Highway in Georgeville Village.  According to police, this white pickup truck was overtaking another vehicle when it slammed head on into this small car and killed two of its occupants. Dennis Rowley is a relative of the deceased and he shares what he has found out about the deadly accident.

Dennis Rowley, Relative of the Deceased

“They went up to the village and on the way back to drop off somebody and they were parked on the side of the road talking to his uncle same time the vehicle come along and box away the whole car – they turned the car into a convertible.”

Andrea Polanco

“The car is completely destroyed?”

Dennis

“The car and the pickup – a pickup just like that. A big truck just like that, mami, mek the car mashup like sardine.”

Andrea Polanco

“Now, what have you heard happened? Was that driver overtaking? What gone on there?”

Dennis Rowley

“He was overtaking but there was another truck coming on the other side of the road but look like he didn’t want to get into the truck so he went into my cousin deh car mien.”

That high impact collision crushed this white car Chavarria was driving smashing it into this tree. The mangled car frame, particularly on the driver’s side, shows that Chavarria stood little chance to escape the force. As these photos show, it is an almost unrecognizable car from the damage. At the accident scene remnants of the vehicles – like this tire and pieces of glass – remain to as tell-tale signs of the dangers of reckless driving on the highways. Rowley says a third family member who was in the car is lucky to be alive today.

Dennis Rowley

Dennis Rowley

“Two died, yes, it was three of them in the car; two of my nephews and my uncle was in the car.  The one over there is the only survivor. He get fling outta the car.”

Andrea Polanco

“So, it was a miracle he survived it?”

Dennis Rowley

“Yes. I don’t know how he is still walking about right now.”

Police say that the driver of the truck, Mario Aldana of San Ignacio has been arrested and hit with a slew of charges.

Joseph Myvett

ACP Joseph Myvett, Head, National Crimes Investigation Branch

“So far police have levied charges against Mario Aldana for two counts of manslaughter by negligence; two counts of causing death by careless conduct; one count of negligent wounding; driving without due care and attention; driving without a driver’s permit and failure to provide specimen.”

But while the driver lives to face those charges, two men lost their lives on the highway in road crash that didn’t have to happen and now a family in Georgeville is left without two of their loved ones. Chavarria was the breadwinner in his home. He was a well-known taxi operator, while his stepson Jones was a construction worker.

Dennis Rowley

“Chavo was a taxi driver. This is his taxi right here. He drives from here to Cayo back and forth every day. Everyone knows him for years. He is one of the most popular taxi driver here. The next one, my little cousin Charles he was a construction worker. He worked here on the road building the highway.  Now, they have left all their families alone and who are gonna take care of these families now?”

Andrea Polanco

“So, they have lost a breadwinner and two beloved members of the family?”

Dennis Rowley

“Yes, the breadwinner and everything, mami, yes.”

Andrea Polanco

“Mr. Rowley, to lose two family members like this, it is a…?”

Dennis Rowley

“It is a big loss, mami. I feel very sorry.   It is very traumatizing, mami. I am very emotional.”

Reporting for News Five, I’m Andrea Polanco.