2 persons injured in separate traffic mishaps

Jose Elmer Villanueva

Two persons were gravely injured in separate traffic accidents in the past three days. The family of sixty-three year old Jose Elmer Villanueva is today standing vigil at the K.H.M.H., praying for the recovery of their loved one. Villanueva was seriously hurt on Tuesday when he fell out of a moving bus as it neared the Burrell Boom cutoff on the Northern Highway. The incident happened at around six thirty in the morning, as the J&J Bus headed north on its regular run to Chetumal. Because the bus was crowded, Villanueva was allegedly sitting on the engine cover at the front of the bus. The bus swerved, and the elderly man fell through the open door onto the highway. His family has been told very little about his injuries, as Villanueva has developed a respiratory condition which is life-threatening. News Five checked on the condition of Villanueva, currently in an induced coma in the intensive ward.

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Badra Coleman, Niece of Jose Elmer Villanueva

“We know that he came to Belize the day before and he was returning to Orange Walk. Apparently, some people say that somebody wanted to step out and so he stood up and a truck was coming or something and the bus swerved and he fell out. But we don’t really know because we haven’t spoken to him yet. He is in intensive care here at the Karl Heusner. He was put in an induced coma so that they can observe him for the next forty-eight hours. Right now the doctors are giving us a fifty/fifty chance, so we just have to wait. It’s a waiting game at the moment.”

Reporter

“So what sort of injuries did he receive?”

Badra Coleman

Badra Coleman

“Apparently the doctor said he came in and he was sort of conscious, but within an hour he started to fall, so they decided to put him on respiratory machines and induce the coma so he can relax.”

Reporter

“Have they said anything else about any broken bones…anything like that?”

Badra Coleman

“What happened is that they’re trying not to move him, so tomorrow they should try to take him out of the coma and then they will see how he responds and then we will know how far his injuries are.”

Reporter

“Has the owner of the bus company gotten in touch with the family yet?”

Badra Coleman

“Yes, they have been here from yesterday and they were here this morning. I actually met the son of the bus owner. They have been here from yesterday as I said. At this time I would just like to ask bus drivers to please, not because it is my uncle, but close the doors. This morning I came in a bus and the bus door was open the entire way. Yes the bus was not full but still, close the door. And whoever rendered assistance to my uncle out there, because we don’t know who brought him to the hospital, but whoever helped him, on behalf of the family we want to thank them very much for bringing him here.”

According to Coleman, at this point the family is not planning to take any legal action against J&J’s Bus Line, which is headquartered in Benque. This afternoon News Five contacted owner Shahid Silva, but he would not give us an interview.