Road accidents kill three

Separate traffic accidents over the weekend have left three people dead. According to police reports, the first incident took place around ten-thirty on Saturday morning near Constitution Park in Belize City. Twenty-three-year old bus driver Delroy Dawson has told authorities that at that time he was heading towards Pound Yard Bridge when a man suddenly jumped in front of the vehicle. The victim was run over and pronounced dead on arrival at the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital. He has since been identified as twenty-three year old Angel Sanchez, a resident of the area who has a history of drug use and mental problems.

Then around eight Saturday night, a head on collision on the Northern Highway in the vicinity of the Biltmore Plaza Hotel claimed the life of a police officer heading to work. Reports are that Constable Rudolph Lopez was on his way to the Queen Street Station when a Mitsubishi Nativa travelling in the opposite direction lost control and crashed into the cop’s car. When traffic officers arrived at the scene, Lopez was still trapped behind the wheel and emergency technicians had to cut him from the vehicle. He was rushed to the K.H.M.H., but died while receiving treatment. The other driver involved in the accident fled the scene but turned himself in to authorities the following day. He has been identified as twenty-five year old Darren Miguel, a Ladyville resident. Miguel has since been charged with Manslaughter by Negligence, Causing Death by Careless Conduct, Driving without Due Care and Attention, two counts of Negligent Grievous Harm and one count of Negligent Harm.

The weekend’s third crash took place in the Cayo District where two pedestrians were knocked down by a senior police officer. Investigations have revealed that around eight-thirty on Saturday night, Assistant Superintendent Jeffrey Martinez was driving from San Ignacio towards Belmopan on the Western Highway when he hit fifteen year old Felicito Chun and twenty-one year old Vitalino Chun between miles forty-nine and fifty. The teenager was declared dead at the Western Regional Hospital while his older brother is listed in critical condition. Both victims are sons of Police Sergeant Theodolpho Chun, currently posted in Dangriga. Martinez, who has served with the Police Department for three decades, has since been charged with Manslaughter by Negligence, Causing Death by Careless Conduct, Driving a Motor Vehicle Without Due Care and Attention, Negligent Grievous Harm, Driving a Motor Vehicle with Alcohol Concentration Above the Prescribed Limit, Driving a Motor Vehicle Not Covered by Third Party Insurance, and Driving an Unlicensed Vehicle. Martinez has since been interdicted from duty pending the outcome of the case.