Newlywed Josue Alfaro Crushed by Bus on Wife’s Birthday

Josue Alfaro

The spate of traffic fatalities continues across the country, the most recent collision claiming the life of a newly-wed on Wednesday night.  The Sandhill Villager was driving his pickup truck along the Phillip Goldson Highway when he overtook another vehicle and collided into a bus travelling in the opposite direction. Police have since detained the driver of the bus for questioning and have served him with a Notice of Intended Prosecution. Police say that while they have taken a urine sample from the bus driver, they will also be getting results for the deceased driver of the truck. Andrea Polanco has more on this latest fatal traffic accident.

Bridget Alfaro, Sister of Deceased

“It was his wife’s birthday and he was heading home to have a nice time and celebrate with his wife and his son.”

Andrea Polanco, Reporting

But Josue Alfaro never made it home for that celebration of his wife’s birthday. Shortly before six on Wednesday evening, commuters met this scene between miles eleven and twelve on the Philip Goldson Highway. A McFadzean bus and a pickup truck driven by Alfaro crashed head on. The bus was damaged to the front, while the vehicle was completely destroyed. Thirty-eight-year-old Alfaro of Sand Hill Village was flung from the pickup truck and died on the spot.

Juanito Cocom

ASP Juanito Cocom, O.C., Ladyville Police

“On the middle of the highway a motionless Hispanic male person wearing a green sleeveless shirt and a dark green three quarter pants, was seen lying face up with his left foot amputated and observed with other bodily injuries.”

Police say that the driver of the bus, twenty-five-year-old Alex Lee McFadzean, said that he was driving towards St Paul’s Bank when this red pickup truck heading in the opposite direction – heading towards Belize City-overtook another vehicle and crashed head on withhis bus that was carrying over twenty five passengers. Luckily no one on the bus was seriously injured.

ASP Juanito Cocom

“He was travelling from the direction of Belize City heading towards St Paul’s Bank and upon reaching between miles eleven and twelve on the Philip Goldson Highway, a red ford pickup truck was travelling in the opposite direction and collided in the front left portion of the bus he was driving. At the time of the accident, there were about twenty-five to thirty passengers on the bus, however, they only receive minor injuries.”

Alfaro wasn’t as lucky to survive the traffic accident. His sister says that his death has shaken the family. He died on his wife’s birthday and less than a week ago he got married here at his residence in Sand Hill Village. And while accidents are frequent in Belize, they didn’t think that one would claim his life because he is an experienced driver who spends a lot of time on the road.

Bridget Alfaro

Bridget Alfaro

“I never did in my life imagine or once thought that I would be going through this for the Christmas; for the holidays – losing my big brother it is rough on the family.  He has a son. It is harder. His only child. He just recently got married for the Christmas. Everybody was so excited. So happy and now for this to happen it is devastating. He is traveling in and out of the US; brings in vehicles so he is in and out and always on the road. So he spends a lot of time on the road. And I guess he was looking forward to spending this holiday with his family.”

Reporter

“What do you know of his driving habits; was he very careful on the road?”

Bridget Alfaro

“One he had his son on him, he is always careful on the road. He travels a lot and he has travelled on rough roads than here. Once he has the baby with him, he is always careful; always cautious. I can’t say how he was driving or what; I know that he was a cautious person.”

Reporting for News Five, I’m Andrea Polanco.