Fatal Traffic Accident on Benque Road lands Deputy ComPol in hot seat

Miguel Segura

Deputy Commissioner of Police Miguel Segura has been placed on interdiction for his involvement in a fatal road traffic accident which occurred early Saturday morning. Police were called to mile seventy-one on the George Price Highway at just after five-thirty, to the scene of a collision between a government-issued Nissan Pathfinder and a blue Toyota taxi. The Pathfinder was being driven by Deputy Commissioner of Police Miguel Segura. Both persons in the taxi received massive head and body injuries, and fifty-four year old Yolanda Valencia died on the scene. Twenty-eight year old Yanie Cu remains in critical condition at the K.H.M.H.  The accident has received intense scrutiny because of allegations that Segura was under the influence. Mike Rudon was in Benque and has the story.

Mike Rudon, Reporting

The tragic accident early Saturday morning which resulted in the death of fifty-four year old Yolanda Valencia has caused a firestorm of emotion, grief and outrage. One of the persons involved in the accident is Deputy Commission of Police Miguel Segura. Persons on the scene claim that he was under the influence, and feel that he will be protected because of his position. The families of Valencia and Yanie Cu, currently fighting for his life, are angry and fearful that justice will be denied them.

Voice of: Rosita Valencia, Sister of Deceased

“I went personally and I tried to talk to higher persons that him because I didn’t know that he was a god in this place. So I tried to get to higher people than him. And I get comfort from somebody—I will not mention name cause I don’t want to compromise nobody—he told my husband and me and that they are trying to go everything with the law. They are trying to get witnesses, they are trying to get evidence and they are trying to get to this case to the fullest. If you hear news Monday, you will hear that he is already charged. A next concern of the family and why we are upset, this person was taken home by the same police to take his shower, change his clothes, and go do his urine test. That is a privilege that any normal Belizean wouldn’t get if you didn’t have a badge beside you. The next thing, the family doesn’t want no compensation…everything we want is justice. I don’t want this because these people are in the laws to take it to their advantage and take us like we are nothing. So everything we want is justice and I’m still wondering when will he be arrested.”

Allen Whylie

But perhaps to counter the perception of any manipulation, interference of protection, Commissioner Allen Whylie has acted swiftly and decisively.

Allen Whylie, Commissioner of Police

“We have taken some actions in terms of where we go from here. I met with Deputy Commissioner Segura this morning and I outlined the course of action which I told him I would have taken and I then thereafter briefed the ministry. And I have written to this ministry for onward transmission to the Security Services Commission for the interdiction/suspension of Deputy Commissioner of Police, Mister Segura from active police duty pending the outcome of this investigation. The post mortem I know on Miss Yolanda is scheduled for today and that post mortem is ongoing. I have not had any communication in terms of if it has concluded and what are the results of the autopsy. I also directed the officer commanding Benque who is investigating this matter to ensure that he took the necessary specimen of blood to the National Forensic Lab today. I know that he is there, the analysis is being done but we have not yet received the results of that analysis. Nonetheless, I felt that this incident is a grave incident, a tragic incident and it required my taking this sort of firm action simply because of the fact that people are concerned and believe that we would not do a thorough investigation because of the fact that it is the deputy commissioner involved.”

The suspension of Deputy Commissioner Miguel Segura has been approved with immediate effect. In addition, statements have been submitted to the Director of Public Prosecutions for instructions.

Allen Whylie

“We’ve submitted statements that we have to date to the acting D.P.P.  If the acting D.P.P. is satisfied and reach a conclusion then he would either tell us to charge and he would advice us with the appropriate charges which more than likely would be Manslaughter by Negligence, Driving Without Due Care and attention, etc. But we are not at that stage yet beucase the acting D.P.P. as I said is still reviewing the files. In terms of his continued future in the department, as we indicated earlier, he is entitled to due process. If it reaches that stage where he is charged, he will have his fair day in court and the court will arrive at some determination. When that arise then we move from there. Presently with the suspension, he is basically interdicted and is away from actual duties. And so all his police powers, functions, duties are in abeyance.”

There have been allegations that Segura was under the influence of alcohol at the time of the accident, but the results of the blood alcohol content test has not yet been received.

Allen Whylie

“People are saying that he was. I cannot say he was; that is the reason why we ask for samples. He complied, he agreed, he gave samples and the analysis is being done. But that is what people were saying.”

At this point Police are not placing any blame on any of the parties, and are waiting for the conclusion of the investigation to do so. Mike Rudon for News Five.