Cyclist Dies after Being Hit by Bus on the George Price Highway
Edward Broaster
There was other loss of lives, but on the highways. A cyclist perished at the start of the weekend after being hit by a passenger bus while traveling along the George Price Highway on Friday night. Thirty-three-year-old Jason Robinson was riding his bicycle when he was struck by a Shaw’s Bus in the vicinity of miles sixteen and seventeen. Robinson, a resident of American Site, Hattieville, was fatally injured. At the scene of the incident, residents were in an uproar and began hurling stones at the bus. According to Franco Ardinette, he was driving the bus in an area that was poorly lit and didn’t see the cyclist until he was too close to avoid hitting him. Robinson was transported to Belize City for medical treatment but succumbed to his injuries on Saturday. Assistant Commissioner of Police Edward Broaster:
ACP Edward Broaster, Regional Commander, Rural Eastern Division
“On Friday, March eighteenth, around 7:45 p.m. Hattieville police responded to the scene of a road traffic accident between miles sixteen and seventeen on the George Price Highway where upon arrival one orange and gold in color Shaw Bus was seen facing a northerly direction, off the shoulder of the highway. The Shaw Bus was observed with damages to the right head lamp and a short distance away from the bus, a dark-skinned male person was lying with injuries to various parts of the body. His name was later learned to be Jason Robinson, thirty-three-years-old, a Belizean cook of American Site. He was transported to the hospital where he, later the following day, succumbed to the injuries received. According to the driver, Franco Ardinette, while he was driving he entered an area that was not well lit and he did not see the victim until he was about five feet in front of him and he swerved in order to try and avoid hitting him but still managed to hit him. He was served with [an] NIP [Notice of Intended Prosecution] and that matter is still being investigated as we speak. There was a disturbance after the incident where we had to send support to Hattieville to control the crowd that was behaving disorderly on that roadway.”
Reporter
“On the roadway but not from the bus. Are these people who came from the village?”
ACP Edward Broaster
“I cannot say at this time if it was from the village or from the bus.”
Reporter
“But it was because of the…”
ACP Edward Broaster
“Traffic accident.”
Reporter
“I imagine it would have been residents.”
ACP Edward Broaster
“It could be from the bus, as well as from the village.”
Reporter
“But nothing violent, no…, just hard talk and…”
ACP Edward Broaster
“They were stoning the bus and other things and we had to send officers from Ladyville over to that side to deal with that situation.”
Reporter
“How many officers?”
ACP Edward Broaster
“I think we sent like eight officers.”
Reporter
“And he was knocked down on the street or more towards the side of the street?”
ACP Edward Broaster
“He was knocked down on the road. Like I said, the driver said that he did not notice him because he was wearing dark clothing and he was riding on the highway. I believe he was on the pavement, more to the side but the driver was unable to see him, according to the driver at the time.”
