Two Dead in Friday Evening Accident

Duane Pelayo & Gerald Gillett

But at the start of the weekend, a terrible road traffic accident on the Phillip Goldson Highway on Friday evening resulted in the death of two men and blocked the road for hours. Thirty-one year old Duane Pelayo and forty-eight year old Gerald Gillett are said to have died almost instantly when the motorcycle they were on collided with a pickup truck heading into Belize City. Mike Rudon was on the scene shortly after and has the story.

Mike Rudon, Reporting

Traffic was brought to a complete standstill on Friday evening, with vehicles backed up for miles. The accident happened on this stretch of road near mile six at just after five pm. Duane Pelayo and Gerald Gillett were on a cycle heading to Ladyville when they slammed almost head on into this pickup owned by the Belize Tourism Board.

ASP Christopher Noble, Rural Executive Officer

“Police were called to an area at mile six on the Phillip Goldson Highway. They met a pickup with damages. They met a motorbike severely damaged and two persons were on the ground and declared deceased on the scene. The information we have presently is that the motorcycle rider and pillion rider were on their way to somewhere in this area, Ladyville and collided into the pickup. We are looking at what may have caused it. We did speak to the driver who was injured to some extent. Like I said the motorcycle riders were deceased on spot.”

The cycle was crushed by the impact. An eyewitness told us that the impact was so massive that the driver of the cycle died immediately while his passenger lived only seconds longer.

Howell Pandy

Howell Pandy, Eyewitness [File: July 25^th, 2014]

“The cycle fly past me. When e fly past me e hit into a black truck on the side of the road. When e hit the black truck e cut weh from the truck and straight into the B.T.B. vehicle….right up ina the air and flat pon the ground.”

Mike Rudon

“From looking at it, it seems like the B.T.B. truck was on its side…was the cycle overtaking or did it lose control when it hit the black vehicle?”

Howell Pandy

“It was overtaking the black truck. While e overtake the black truck e hit like the mirror or something on the black truck…then seca deh try get away from that ih gawn over to the left. The B.T.B. truck look like e midi try get weh from a offa the road but e still hit ah…”

Mike Rudon

“Could you tell from what you saw if death was instantaneous for the persons on the cycle?”

Howell Pandy

“Well when the thing happen, I get out of my car and I gawn…and the one middle of the road look like he mi dead right away. The one by the fence he midi breathe for a while. He breathe and breathe and breathe and then he stop.”

The tragedy highlighted another serious problem – as we told you the road was literally blocked for hours – no access into or out of Belize City on the major artery.

Christopher Noble

ASP Christopher Noble

“It became quite chaotic. There are times when everybody is going home and Friday is the day when everybody leaves their job and travels out-district. The highway was very crowded. We do appreciate that communicating with the media right away persons were asked to use the other highway, asking persons to be patient with us….we ask that persons always be patient with us. There are times when it is required and sometimes tensions do flare. Friday’s events showed us where we have to put something in place for that particular part of the highway because it locks off access both in and out and to some extent some persons were trapped within that area. Looking at it and re-strategizing will be key for us, because it is not as though it will not repeat itself.”

For Pelayo and Gillett, any warning would come too late, but for others who will be using this potentially hazardous stretch of road, it is wise to exercise extreme caution.

ASP Christopher Noble

“Be cognizant of one, at that time of the evening it is going to be dark. You need to be lighted. For motorcycle riders your helmets are very key. However, riding a motorcycle or driving a vehicle, if you were consuming something it is not advisable any at all. That piece of highway is rather dark. It is not well lit. You need to have lights and proper ones at that. You need to be cautious not only for yourself but for the next person. There are pedestrians, motorcycles, bicycles and other vehicles using the road. Being in haste doesn’t actually help. It doesn’t help at all if you are in a haste and cause problems for yourself.”

Looking at the scene of the impact it would be difficult to believe, but the driver of the vehicle received only very minor injuries and walked away from the incident. Mike Rudon for News Five.