House driver charged in fatal accident

Daniel Urbina

A young resident of Orange Walk lost his life in a road traffic accident around three o’clock on Saturday morning. Daniel Urbina, the son of Rosendo Urbina Junior and his wife Becky of A&R store and a friend had left the City and were heading home to Orange Walk Town when his truck crashed into a ten-wheeler that was moving a house. Urbina suffered massive head and body injuries and died on the scene of the accident on the Phillip Goldson Highway. The driver of the other vehicle is facing a slew of charges. Andrea Polanco has more on this accident.

Andrea Polanco, Reporting

Twenty-five-year-old Daniel Urbina was killed behind the wheels when he was driving between miles forty-two and forty-three on the Philip Goldson Highway, in the early hours of Saturday morning. Urbina’s vehicle collided into an oncoming truck that was transporting a house and it then slammed into the house. He died on the scene. His passenger Ronni Pech escaped with minor injuries.

Insp. Wilfredo Ferrufino, C.I.B., Belize City

Insp. Wilfredo Feruffino

“The vehicle collided into another truck – a white GMC ten-wheeler which was carrying a structure, a house, and it was travelling to Belize City and the vehicle in which Mr. Urbina was in was travelling to Orange Walk. His vehicle collided into the outer side of the building that was being transported and he sustained multiple head and body injuries and died on the scene.”

The driver of the ten-wheeler truck transporting the house, Ever Hosmel Uk, has since been arrested and slapped with a slew of charges: Manslaughter by Negligence; Causing death by careless conduct; driving without due care and attention and contravention to road service permit. Despite that investigation shows that Urbina’s vehicle crashed into Uk’s, police say Uk didn’t follow critical road safety measures when transporting the house.

Reporter

“You said that the investigation show that it was the other driver who collided or crashed into the vehicle carrying the structure or the house; so, then, why will this driver be charged?”

Insp. Wilfredo Ferrufino

“I believe that the investigation has yielded that because of certain measures that had to be in place for that vehicle travelling with that building, those measures were not adhered to. Therefore, that put the burden on the other driver.”

Reporter

“That would be lighting measures?”

Insp. Wilfredo Ferrufino

“Exactly. There are several measures that ought to be used when conveying these structures and I think persons dealing with these kinds of movements ought to be aware of that. There should be adequate lighting on that structure. There should be a lead vehicle in place so that people know that there is a large structure coming and they should be cautious when approaching the vehicle.”

Daniel Urbina is described as a friendly and easy-going young man. He was also an active member of the Rotaract Club of Orange Walk and student at the University of Belize in Belmopan.

Andrea Polanco reporting for News Five