Traffic cop injured in N. Highway crash

Seven days after Sergeant Alford Grinage was left semi-conscious following a traffic accident on the Western Highway we are pleased to report tonight that the commander of the Crimes Intelligence Unit is doing very well and was scheduled to be released from Universal Health Services sometime today. But as one family gets ready to welcome home their loved one, another law enforcement officer is in the hospital after he almost lost his life in a traffic accident. According to Orange Walk police, Constable Giordani Garcia, who is attached to the traffic branch in Belize City, was driving his Nissan pickup on the Northern Highway toward San Jose Village around seven pm New Year’s night. But as Garcia, who was in the company of fifty-two year old Jose Novelo, continued on his way, a cane truck travelling in the opposite direction and driven by thirty year old Roberto Juchim of San Jose Village, strayed into Garcia’s lane and collided head on into the small pickup. Garcia was trapped in the vehicle but was eventually freed and transported to Northern Regional in an unconscious state. He suffered a broken left arm, left foot and pelvic bone. Today authorities say Garcia has regained consciousness and is scheduled to undergo surgery for his injuries. Novelo was not badly hurt. And Juchim? Police say after he caused the accident, he fled the scene but was later caught and arrested. Today, he appeared in magistrate’s court where he was charged with one count of negligent grevious harm, one count of harm, two counts of failure to stop and render aid, one count of driving without due care and attention and one count of failure to report an accident. He was offered and met bail in the amount of two thousand, five hundred dollars plus one surety in the same amount. Juchim is schedule to reappear in court on March Third.