4 year old child killed in Teakettle Traffic Accident

Sherica Gentle

Tragedy hit the family of four year old Sherica Gentle from Ontario Village in the Cayo District. Sherica and her family had gone over to Teakettle when on Sunday she was hit and killed as she crossed the highway. The driver of the offending vehicle says he did not see the young girl; instead he saw a man crossing the road. News Five’s Isani Cayetano spoke to family members and the police about the unfortunate incident.

Isani Cayetano, Reporting

What began as a quiet weekend spent with family and friends in Teakettle Village ended in tragedy on Sunday afternoon when four year-old Sherica Gentle was struck by an oncoming pickup truck as she ran across the snaking highway.  Unfortunately, Sherica, a resident of neighboring Ontario, was knocked down just a few feet away from where this pedestrian crossing sign is planted.

Voice of: Ashanti Anthony, Aunt of Sherica Gentle

Ashanti Anthony

“She went to spend the weekend with us at Teakettle and coming back she was already in the pickup front and my sister went across by the neighbor, across the street and then she tell my stepfather, ‘cause he done mi di sihdown by the di driver’s spot, so ih tell ahn ih wahn come out because ih wahn go fih ih schoolbag weh leff anda di house and ih neva had to cross di street fi go da di house.”

But the child saw another aunt, whom she was also with, dash across the highway and promptly decided to follow suit, oblivious of the fast approaching vehicle.  According to a statement given by the driver of the pickup, he saw a man crossing the road first.

Raphael Martinez

Raphael Martinez, Police Press Officer

“Israel Gonzalez, fifty-eight years old Belizean of Orange Walk Town, reported that at 3:20 p.m. on the ninth of December, he was driving his Mazda pickup from Cayo towards Orange Walk Town.  He further stated that upon reaching Teakettle Village he saw a pickup truck parked on the right hand side of the George Price Highway, facing in the direction of San Ignacio.  He further stated that he saw a male person moving from behind that pickup truck and a few seconds later, four year-old Sherica Gentle, a student of Teakettle Village, emerged and ran in the same direction.”

Despite his effort to swerve away from the minor, Gonzalez’s vehicle slammed violently into her causing massive head and body trauma.

Isani Cayetano

“Did the driver of that vehicle stop to render any kind of aid or anything of the sort?”

Voice of: Ashanti Anthony

“Yes, he stopped and he was the one that took her to the hospital.  My mother is a nurse soh she done mi di go fi meet dehn dah Teakettle but she end up mi di meet dehn through Forest Drive when she get my niece from out of their vehicle and then dat dah when she mek wah police drive ahn then she start CPR pan my niece but by di time she get ahn from my sista weh mi di go with dehn da hospital, when my ma get ahn from my sista, my ma tell ahn ih done dead but she still mi di try CPR fu sih if ih my wah come back but ih neva come back.”

Sherica’s aunt told News Five that they were unable to see her at the rear of their vehicle because of a chest of drawers which was loaded in the pan of the pickup.  She also reiterated that it wasn’t necessarily the driver’s fault since the child did not have to cross the road.

Voice of: Ashanti Anthony

“It’s a big bureau drawer so when she come outta di vehicle we cyan sih when she di come out sayka di drawer di block our way.  So by di time she run out dah then we know dat da she get knock down when we sih she pan di ground.”

Raphael Martinez

“Gentle was transported to the Western Regional Hospital where she was pronounced dead.  Gonzalez has since been detained pending charges.”

Reporting for News Five, I am Isani Cayetano.