Bus driver knocks down and kills 3 year old
A three year old in the Corozal District was killed in a tragic accident on Monday as she and her mother were riding on a bicycle. The investigation is still at an early stage and so far the police have only gotten the Venus bus driver’s version of what happened. The reports are that seventeen year old Ruby Olivarez was riding with her toddler on Seventh Avenue when the side of the bus hit the bike as it attempted to pass them. Little Gabriella Osorio did not survive the impact and succumbed to head injuries almost instantly. She also had abrasions on her leg and was bleeding profusely from the nose when her body was taken to the hospital. Officer commanding the Corozal Police told News Five via phone what their investigations have revealed thus far.
Via Phone: Supt. Miguel Guzman, O.C., Corozal Police
“Preliminary investigation into this matter revealed that the bus was driven at the time by one Ernesto Montalvo, thirty-seven years driver of North Corozal Town and he reported that at about three-thirty p.m. whilst he was driving the said bus from the direction of Seventh Avenue into Fifth Avenue in a west to east direction, he saw a Hispanic descent female person riding a red in color beach cruiser bicycle with a female child seated on the bar, on his right lane heading in the same direction as the bus. As he was overtaking the person riding the bicycle, after he had cleared the front portion of the bus, he certainly heard a scream from the side of the bus. He applied brakes and immediately came to a stop. Upon making checks, he saw the motionless body of the child lying on the street behind the bus and the Hispanic descent female screaming near the body. The body of the female child was later identified as Gabriela Eulalia Osorio three years of age, Belizean of Corozal Town.”
Delahnie Bain
“Will any charges be brought against Mr. Montalvo?”
Via Phone: Supt. Miguel Guzman
“At this point in time it is too early to say since the entire incident, it appears as though it was the side of the bus that made contact with the bicycle rider. So there is no indication at this point in time that there was any negligence on the part of the driver.”
Delahnie Bain
“And the mother and the child on the bicycle, were they riding on the side of the road or in the middle of the road in the busses way or something to that effect?”
Via Phone: Supt. Miguel Guzman
“Basically from the investigation, it may reveal that they were more at the middle of the road when the bus was driving to pass them.”
Delahnie Bain
“Has the mother indicated that she would like to see charges come out of this?”
Via Phone: Supt. Miguel Guzman
“We have not been able to speak to the mother; she is in a state of shock. And as soon as she gets over the funeral arrangements and everything we’ll definitely be speaking to her and that will determine the next course of action that will be taken by police.”
Olivarez was not injured in the accident.
Mothers in Belize need to take responsibility for their children as well.
it seem almost like a natural thing for people to put their kids on bike handles , or bikes without helmets, or in cars without seatbelts, how sad is that to see parents put their children lives in danger.
it is definately the responsibility of the mother to not have her child on the safety bar and to have her wear protective gear. But in Belize, those things are not enforced. And perhaps they should be. But then this bicycle might be the only form of transportation she has and may not be able to afford protective gear. I suggest an organization of some sort starts up a collection of protective gear such as helmets, knee and elbow pads for kids or parents of kids who cannot afford to buy them. However, as a driver, especially of a big vehicle like a bus, you should treat pedestrians and bicyclers as any other vehicle and keep ur distance from them as well as take extra precaution when over taking. After all you would not over take another vehicle without having enough clear distance to avoid property damage so why not take the same measures when it involves another life.
good thought Nola…maybe you should take on that organization…im sure you will get the safety gear donated by large businesses. no need to have a big investment just the will and go for it.
VENUS DRIVERS ARE TOO NEGLIGENT WHEN DRIVING.EVEN THE CONDUCTORS ARE RUDE TO THE COMUTERS.IN MY OPINION, THE POLICE SHOULD TAKE THIS MATTER SERIUOSLY. THAT MAN SHOULD BE CHARGED AND HE WILL SERVE AS AN EXAMPLE!