Fatal Accident on Northern Highway
A fatal accident occurred at around seven o’clock on Wednesday night on the Northern Highway in Belize City. A man was killed when he was hit by a pickup truck coming from the direction of the Haulover Bridge into Belize City and it was not until this afternoon that the victim was identified as, Serafin Acosta. He was flung several feet away by the impact and died instantly. Acosta’s body was transported over an hour later to the K.H.M.H. The 2012 Great Wall Wingle was found on the extreme right of the highway with damages to the hood and left front indicator while the bumper was ripped off. News Five was on the scene on Wednesday night and Duane Moody has the story.
Duane Moody, Reporting
Vehicles were backed up on the Northern Highway at mile three and a half in front of Belize Tractor Parts Limited. The body of a Hispanic male later identified as Serafin Acosta laid lifeless in the middle of the road. According to police, Acosta was hit by this white 2012 Great Wingle coming into Belize City. He was flung in the air and then landed in the middle of the highway; sustaining injuries to his head and body.
Voice of: Delmi Lopez, Witnessed Accident
“I see the man mi di come across the road and dehn just mi wah holler for the man and ask ahn if ih want a plate of food and then ih just mi di come across and I see the vehicle knock him down. The man only mi di cross the street and when the vehicle mi di come under speed and ih just knock ahn down and it bring ahn way up deh. He knock ahn down far and then he bring the old man straight deh.”
Residents in the area say that while they didn’t know Acosta by name, he was frequently seen walking the highway. Witness, Delmi Lopez, who spoke to News Five off-camera, says that Acosta did not have relatives living in Belize.
Voice of: Delmi Lopez
“The old man; well I noh know his name, but I know him a good while; good while I know he.”
Duane Moody
“He doesn’t have family here?”
Voice of: Delmi Lopez
“Well I noh think so; he noh have no kinda family.”
Duane Moody
“Is he always on this road, crossing the streets, the highway like that?”
Voice of: Delmi Lopez
“I always see him walking on the way, but I neva see he crossing the road and things like that.”
The driver of the pickup truck, thirty-five year old Nigel Matus was travelling with his wife and another passenger when the incident happened. He has since been served with a notice of intended prosecution. Duane Moody for News Five.
My prayers for the poor victim. It’s a dangerous stretch of road at night. RIP.
Put some damn light pan di road belize
Belize needs to put some damn lights on the Northern Highway. Everytime I drive on that highway at night time, i am going 10 miles an hour because I can’t see crap. It’s pitch black. People keep on overtaking me and I nuh care because at least when they overtake me I get some damn light. I must also add that 3 times in my 28 years of living some crazy person is walking down that highway in na di pitch blackness of the night. the only reason i didn’t accidently killed them is because I was going about 10 minles an hour. If anyone is to blame for someone getting ran over at night time, its the damn Belize government….tell the Prime Minister I said so….I hate that damn highway….its an accident waiting to happen!!!!!
i just think that Belizean pedestrians have all the rights when it comes to our streets and highway, but the funny thing is that they don’t give them any responsibility with those rights thats y we always have someone getting knocked down. People in Belize tend to walk anywhere without giving adherence to the flow of traffic even on the highway. and still our law is set up to protect them no matter what they do and innocent drivers has to go through stress and harassment from the police for driving without due care and attention since thats their favorite
belize Cty to airport;;most dangerous stretch of road in the world, ( based strictly on the number of fatalities per year.)