5 injured in Cayo crash

Fortunately, no one was killed, but a road accident Monday evening between San Ignacio and Benque Viejo has left a trail of pain stretching across two Belize City hospitals. News 5’s Jacqueline Woods has more.

Jacqueline Woods, Reporting

Forty-four year old Gessy Hernandez is just one of five passengers who were seriously injured after the taxi in which they were travelling crashed into an eighteen-wheel truck that was parked between miles seventy-three and seventy-four on the Western Highway. According to the driver, fifty-two year old Inez Gomez, who received injuries to his upper lip, chest and right knee, he had just picked up two adults, two children and one student in San Ignacio and was travelling towards Benque Viejo when upon reaching a curve, he was blinded by the sun and did not noticed the vehicle on the side of the road. Gomez disputes reports that the crash occurred while he was trying to overtake another vehicle.

Inez Gomez, Taxi Driver

?When I see it, I tried to get away from the truck, but it was already too late. I was very close, the sun was hitting me in the face too much and the truck has no signal lights or nothing. The truck was there and I hit the back of it. It is not like how the police say it or how they say it in the news, that I was going to overtake another vehicle. That?s a lie. I hit the truck from behind. I was trying to get away but it was too late already.?

Gomez, who claimed he was travelling between fifteen to twenty miles per hour, says he could do nothing to avoid the accident.

Jacqueline Woods

?Do you believe you are responsible for this accident?”

Inez Gomez

?I really believe not. In this accident I just can say that I had the fault because the sun was hitting me, I was on a curve and I think that truck shouldn?t stop there and if they do stop, they should have some signal behind. They should have a signal light so people can really check that. When you see that then you can stop.?

Jose Hernandez, son of Gessy says he does not know what really happened, but still cannot understand why Gomez could not avoid hitting the truck.

Jose Hernandez, Son

? I don?t know. I don?t know, but the only thing I could say is that he has all the fault. He has all the fault. I just want my mom to feel better. If everything comes out good you know–but if things get complicated, they will have to think better because I will take this court until I get satisfaction.?

Hernandez says his mother, who was in the back seat, suffered a serious head injury and is unable to walk. Hernandez says the doctors have told them that there is a chance she may loose her right leg.

Jose Hernandez

?I feel sorry about all this because this is my mom. I don?t like to see my mom like that because she can?t move, she could loose the leg and she can?t remember some things. Right now she talks yes. She looks at me and then after that she doesn?t remember anything.?

Hospitalized at Belize Medical Associates are thirty-one year old Rosa Reyes and her children Raphael, three, and Edwardo thirteen. Also at BMA is the fourteen-year-old student Annie Can, who is suffering from a serious head injury.

Jacqueline Woods for News 5.

The parked truck carried Guatemalan license plates.