Gone too soon; man killed on the highway

Shane Dougal

The family of a security officer is grieving his untimely death. Shane Dougal, who is employed by Harpy Security, was hit and killed on the Northern Highway as he headed to work after Saturday’s carnival. His mother Sarita Pitts, says she has been getting conflicting reports from the police. News’s Five’s Delahnie Bain has that story.

Delahnie Bain, Reporting

A Belize City security officer was knocked down and killed on Saturday evening as he headed to work in Ladyville. Twenty-five year old Shane Dougal was riding his bicycle at mile six on the Northern Highway when a Nissan Altima coming from behind, lost control and hit him. Dougal died on the spot and his mother, Sarita Pitts, soon received the devastating news.

Sarita Pitts, Mother of Deceased

“I mi di buy dah dis hop and I get wa call dat Shane get knocked down so I seh okay I gwein to di hospital. Den wah next one ah my friend call and seh Sarita Go to the hospital to go and check on Shane. Going on the way, me and my husband in the taxi, I heard on the flash news that a person get knocked down on a bicycle. So immediately I screamed out in the vehicle and I tell my husband, my baby died, my baby died. He seh no ih noh dead and I seh yes ih dead because I feel my whole body getting tired and I feel like… you know. It was a shock because he would go on the bus. But what I think happen is that with the traffic and thing he mussy seh better he goes on his bike and he made a decision and went on his bike because he has his money to go on the bus but he went on his bicycle.”

Pitts says she went to morgue but couldn’t bear to uncover her son’s body to see the full extent of his injuries.

Sarita Pitts

“When we went to the hospital and things his boss he came for us and he carry us up the road to go and see Shane but meanwhile we were going they were bringing down my son’s body. So we went to the hospital and I saw the police, I saw my son still in his uniform; his bag tear up, I see his shoes it was like slippers because the two bottom tear and then I see his hand was peel and I didn’t lift up the cloth because I noh want si di blood but I see di blood on di sheet and thing. I rub and I cry and I tell ah yoh dah wah good son and I seh thank God that I always does tell you I love you.”

The driver, twenty-one year old Jason Castillo was taken to the K.H.M.H and treated for minor injuries, after which he was detained and escorted to the Ladyville Police Station. But Pitts says she has been getting mixed messages from the police about the investigation.

Sarita Pitts

Sarita Pitts

“We went to the Ladyville police station; he tell us that they have an eyewitness then when my husband called the Sunday Sgt. Moreira  said he don’t have no eye witness then we asked them if they have the guy—we went to the station at Queen Street and they say they don’t have the guy. So they have me very, very confused. I don’t know what to say. The guy refused to take a urine test so hey, you guys slipping up. So get some equipment if they don’t want to take a urine test, get something that they have to blow in. So people life is cheap out here. I want this push and I noh want nobody—even if dehn know people up eena di station—I just di wonder now if ih now anybody up eena di station because its Jason Castillo; that is the name weh I hear on the news because nowadays money talk and di police can say but I am saying it because nowadays if you dah money people and you could afford get a top lawyer, that is how I see it work.”

And while she wants justice, the grieving mother says she holds no grudge against Castillo.

Sarita Pitts

“I lef everything to God and the one weh knock him down will always—all weh I tell ah, I want ih watch mi face and I di tell ah my son will always deh along with him because ih neva have di manners fi mi contact wid me at least the Sunday because I would understand. I don’t have no hatred against ah because dat will not put me nowhere. That is my baby, Shane Dougal is my baby; everybody know he was a good guy, he wasn’t no type of trouble, nothing, he was loved. And that is my baby and I will remember him always until di day I die.”

Castillo has been served with a notice of intended prosecution. Delahnie Bain for News Five.

Castillo’s Grey Nissan Altima Car was also extensively damaged in the accident.