Boat accident victim on the road to recovery

On Monday night we reported a fatal boat accident at sea near White Sands Cove north of San Pedro Ambergris Caye. Police say that their investigation may lead to charges of Causing Death by Careless Conduct and Manslaughter by Negligence. According to the cops, one of the boats did not have lights and they have forwarded the files to the office of the Director of Public Prosecutions for a decision. The collision, which occurred around six-thirty on Sunday night, took the life thirty-three year old Cesar Scott and injured two others including a U.S. national. In the meantime, the condition of forty-two year old Boat Captain for Sueño Del Mar Resort, Antonio Tepaz, has improved. Tepaz suffered several injuries to the leg, chest and arm from the impact and has undergone two rounds of surgeries on his leg and lungs. He is expected to have an early recovery.

Duane Moody
“They said that you didn’t have any light on your boat or anything like that.”

Antonio Tepaz, Victim of Boat Accident
“Ih got light. Dehn put a new light because dehn guys bought a light and put it on di back. On di back di light was not working but dehn buy wah light and put it and so it had light on that night.”

Duane Moody
“In your recollection what exactly happened on Sunday night?”

Antonio Tepaz
“I come from Sueno Del Mar, I ker some members there. When I come back I see wah boat coming approaching to me and I try to go out but I think that he neva see me and I try to go on di beach and from deh I see he come straight to me and I stop the machine and I give reverse fi no make the collapse big. From that I noh remember nothing more. When I reach right here in Belize, I hear that he was dead.”

Duane Moody
“You were unconscious for that time?”

Antonio Tepaz
“Yes.”

Duane Moody
“Who rescued you guys from the…”

Antonio Tepaz
“I can’t remember nothing. When I open my eyes I see the doctor and from den I noh remember nothing. When I reach here the doctor make me some surgery right here.”

Duane Moody
“How many surgeries did you get and for what?”

Antonio Tepaz
“One for my foot that get broke and one for another one to take out the water from my lungs.”

Duane Moody
“What are the doctors saying now are you safe from harm?”

Antonio Tepaz
“He says that I am lee bit safe from that lee bit by lee bit.”

Tepaz says he is to have another surgery for injuries to his chest.