One dead, two injured in Western Hwy. crash
It has become a notorious strip of highway, and this weekend–yet again–police and rescue personnel were called to the scene of another fatal accident. This time it was a collision between a red Toyota Corolla and white Plymouth van.
Jacqueline Woods, Reporting
Thirty-four year old Warren Lee Wade was on his way to Belmopan when he crashed into a van travelling in the opposite direction, driven by Gerald Flowers. Flowers received only minor injuries, but Wade lay trapped in the driver’s seat with massive head and body injuries. Although a fire and rescue team managed to free him from the mangled car, there was nothing the medical team at the scene could do to save his life.
The police do not believe either driver was speeding, in fact, authorities say both vehicles were travelling under the fifty-five mile speed limit. According to the officer in charge of the Hattieville police station, Sergeant Christopher Noble, he strongly suspects a sudden rain made the road slick, causing the vehicles to collide.
Sgt. Christopher Noble, O.C. Hattieville Prison
“It was raining at the time, so we do know that the road was wet. But what actually transpired is between the deceased and?we can’t say at yet exactly what happened, but we do know that they did collide at the same area that is normally accident prone.”
Wade’s girlfriend, twenty-four year old Vanessa Morgan, who was in the passenger’s seat, received only minor injuries.
Jacqueline Woods
“So far the stretch between miles twenty and twenty-one has claimed seven lives. It is one of the most dangerous spots located along the Western Highway. It is not certain if there are any plans to improve the road condition, but authorities do have one probable solution that they believe will help save lives.”
Sgt. Christopher Noble
“Take the curves out. Making it a straighter road will not necessarily mean it’s much safer, but I believe that taking it out, maybe some resurfacing, because it is a slick piece of road.”
The accident was just one of several that occurred over the weekend and kept the Hattieville Police station working overtime on the Western Highway.
Sgt. Christopher Noble
“We’ve been having accidents since Friday. We’ve had at least two, three vehicles overturn, one of which overturn shortly after we left the accident scene yesterday in that same vicinity.”
Noble advises motorists to buckle up and exercise caution when travelling on the Western Highway, especially between miles twenty and twenty-one and thirty and thirty-four.
This year alone, twenty-three people have died in accidents on the Western Highway.
