One dead as truck drives into crowd
Late night bar fights come in all shapes and sizes, but the fatal tragedy that occurred in the early hours of Saturday morning has left Cayo residents in a state of disbelief. News 5’s Jacqueline Woods is just back from the west with the story.
Jacqueline Woods, Reporting
San Ignacio police strongly believe thirty-three year old Eduardo Balona, a mason of Bullet Tree Falls, got into his grey Isuzu pick up truck and deliberately drove the vehicle into a crowd of people who were standing outside of Legends 2000 club. Twenty-one year Emil Espat received serious body injuries and later died at the San Ignacio Hospital.
Supt. Gilroy Nicholas, O.C. San Ignacio Police Station
“From our investigation, I don’t want to get down to the details of the investigation, but it is something intentionally and wilfully done, that’s why we charged him for one count of murder, three counts of dangerous harm, in comparison of charging him for manslaughter by negligence.”
Jacqueline Woods
“San Ignacio police say they are still investigating reports that there was an argument between Balona and Espat that started inside the club and ended with Espat being run over outside the establishment. The Espat family says there was no misunderstanding with their son, only that he was viciously killed for no reason at all.”
However, one eyewitness who did not wish to appear on camera told News 5 that during the hassle inside the club, Balona’s girlfriend jumped on Espat. Espat responded by pushing the young lady away and she fell on the ground. The eyewitness believes this is what enraged Balona and caused him to hit Espat with the pickup.
Espat was about to get into his vehicle with one Shane Gillett when both men were struck from behind.
Shane Gillett, Witness
“I got hit on the left hand side of my body. I have a lot of pain in my body, scrapes on my left hand, pain in the neck…on the left hand side of my body, the whole left hand side of my body.”
Gillett says he does not know what argument Espat and Balona had inside the popular club, but the vehicle came at them at such a speed that they did not have any time to get out of harms way.
Shane Gillett
“I was about to put into Emil Espat into his vehicle when a pickup came from behind and knocked us down.”
Jacqueline Woods
“What did you see after that?”
Shane Gillett
“Well when I was knocked down I got up on my knees and saw a grey Isuzu pickup…he never did stop after he knock us down, he just drive away.”
“Then after seeing the pickup I got to stand on my feet saw several people lying on the ground. I know the people them, but not all of their names.”
Authorities say Balona has been charged with murder, three counts of attempted murder, three counts of dangerous harm and one count of reckless driving. Meanwhile, Espat was buried this evening following services at Scared Heart Church. Jacqueline Woods for News 5.
Authorities say there were about fifty people outside of the club at the time of the killing. Also injured in the incident was Police Corporal Donaltildo Queschen, Elijah Rhaburn and Sherman Gillett.
