Policeman and his sister killed in highway collision

A fatal traffic accident is always a sad event…but the one that occurred on Saturday morning between miles thirty-seven and thirty-eight on the Northern Highway takes on added significance as it involved the death of a police officer. News Five’s Jacqueline Woods has the story.

Jacqueline Woods, Reporting
The lone survivor in the Toyota car, police officer Adrian Mendez Junior lies in the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital suffering from facial injuries, a broken left hand, and a fractured left leg. At the time of the accident, the vehicle was being driven by police constable Edwin Perrera, who was also travelling along with his younger sister Olive Martinez. Both brother and sister lost their lives. Adrian Mendez Senior says his son is lucky to be alive.

Adrian Mendez, Sr., Father
?I ask him this morning and he said that he slept good last night, he had a good rest. He was not in a lot of pain like when he was admitted yesterday.?

Today Police Commissioner Gerald Westby paid a courtesy call on his young officer and told News Five that they are still trying to determine what happened to cause the collision between the Toyota and an Isuzu pickup driven at the time by fifty-one year old Hilberto Aguirre, who was travelling with eight passengers, all residents of San Lazaro Village in the Orange Walk District.

Gerald Westby, Police Commissioner
?Well we are still investigating. Some of the witnesses were injured and we need to get statement from them before we can definitively determine who caused or what caused the accident.?

Adrian Mendez, Sr.
?He told me that he was sleeping, he was coming sleeping, so when he suddenly opened his eyes it?s because he recall seeing the vehicle right in front of him. That?s all he can recall he said.?

Commissioner Westby not only took the time out to sympathize with the families affected, but spoke about P.C Perrera as one of the department?s most promising young officers.

Gerald Westby
?Well he joined the force about a year and seven months ago and directly out of the training academy he was posted at the Special Patrol Unit and only on the fifteenth of June this year he was transferred to San Ignacio where he and his colleague Mendez were both working at the time when this unfortunate accident occurred.?

Jacqueline Woods reporting for News Five.

The passengers in the other vehicle were mostly family members who were on their way to Hattieville Prison to participate in a family day. They include Michelle Carrillo, Magaly Vasquez, Vicky Vasquez, Brandon Vasquez, Julian Vasquez, Yari Vasquez, Manuela Ical, and Martin Vasquez, who remains hospitalized at the K.H.M.H. with severe body injuries.

In related news, police have still not been able to identify the victim of a fatal hit and run that occurred Thursday night in Belmopan. They are asking anyone who can help solve this mystery to please call the nearest police station.