Christian Charles dies; was it hit-and-run or something more?
Christian Charles
Twenty-seven-year-old Christian Charles was knocked down a week ago and left for dead near the Burrell Boom Bridge in rural Belize District. Swanka, as he is affectionately known, valiantly fought for his life at the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital. Sadly, he lost that fight earlier today. Police still have not been able to catch up to the man they say likely ran him over. His brother Orvin Haylock spoke to News Five today and as Aaron Humes reports, he still has lots of unanswered questions.
Orvin Haylock, Brother of Deceased
Orvin Haylock
“My brother was totally critical, he never did wake up from the induced coma that they put him in. My brother passed away five-fifteen this morning. On my birthday – today is my birthday. And I’ll be real and true with you, I’m taking it hard; I don’t know what else to say, what else to do. Nobody have come forward and no policeman has come to us – yes, police did call my aunt; policeman come and check up every morning and see how he was doing and if he passed away and whatever, but none of them come and say exactly what was really the motive of my brother’s accident; none, absolutely none. I am very devastated, because we should have had answers by now, at least.”
Aaron Humes, Reporting
But apart from confirming that it was a hit-and-run traffic accident, police had little to say.
Insp Wilfredo Ferrufino
Insp. Wilfredo Ferrufino, C.I.B.
“Initial investigation revealed that he was walking on the road and suspected to be hit by a vehicle; because of the injuries he sustained, it is consistent with that of a road traffic accident. On the twenty-third of April – that would be today’s date – about five a.m., Mister Charles succumbed to his injuries and he was pronounced dead by Doctor Cuellar. That matter is under investigation; no one has been arrested and charged in regards to that.”
Reporter
“So it appears at this time that it’s a hit-and-run?”
Insp. Wilfredo Ferrufino
“Yes, it would appear to be that.”
Reporter
“So the victim, has he been able to assist in any kind of way in terms of explaining to investigators how it happened, how he was injured?”
Insp. Wilfredo Ferrufino
“I don’t have that information.”
And neither does the family. According to Haylock, it hurts the family even more that the perpetrator failed to render aid or apologized to the family.
Orvin Haylock
“We have no information stating that – no driver has shown up, no phonecalls, nothing to say that yes, my brother was hit and run. But there’s a lot of talking, a lot of stories, some of them we can’t really understand, some of them we can understand. The thing is my brother was left on the road to die; that hurt the family. No kay da who, why can’t they just come and say something? Say ‘it was me and I’m sorry, I was intoxicated’ – nothing, nothing. nobody has shown up as yet; nobody.”
Andrea Polanco
“Do you feel, Mr. Haylock that had that driver stopped and picked up your brother and taken him to the hospital, that he would still be alive today; there was chance he would be alive?”
Orvin Haylock
“Probably, probably. Maybe he would have been alive right now; still maybe fighting for his life. But if you render assistance at the same present moment, he stands a chance, you understand? But if you leave him out there like a dog, who else would [help]?”
The family is also contemplating the awful thought that perhaps Charles may have been the victim of something more sinister.
Orvin Haylock
“I feel like he was beaten and left on the road and somebody just ran him over by mistake, because the story is not adding up.”
Andrea Polanco
“What kind of injuries did he sustain, Mr. Haylock?”
Orvin Haylock
“He sustained head trauma, broken chest plate, eight broken ribs, a broken arm, a punctured lung; his kidneys failed; his pelvis area is broken. He had his right leg actually broken in two spots.”
Andrea Polanco
“A lot of injuries…”
Orvin Haylock
“A lot of injuries. How could somebody really survive. The pelvis bone area was crushed into minced pieces of bone, and anybody could tell you that down in the pelvis bone area contains the most blood, that holds the most blood in your body. And if that is broken so bad and your kidney is not working; your lungs is not functioning, how can you live? My brother was a fighter; he lived for nine days.”
Aaron Humes reporting for News Five.
