Northern Hwy. accident leaves woman critical

Meanwhile, another Belize City mother is at her daughter’s bedside at the K.H.M.H. willing her to live. A single vehicle traffic accident on the Northern Highway in the early morning hours of Sunday has left a young woman in critical condition, but her family still has hope for her recovery. News 5’s Jacqueline Woods has more.

Jacqueline Woods, Reporting

Tonight, twenty-three-year-old Tanya Smart clings to life at the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital. Smart was driving to her home in Lord’s Bank village sometime early Sunday morning when she lost control of her vehicle and slammed into a tree by mile eight on the Northern Highway.

Pamela Gibson, Sister

“I first received word when a gentleman came to my house at about 4:00 in the morning. He was at scene and he came and inform me about the accident.”

Jacqueline Woods

“Does the family know what happened?”

Pamela Gibson

“Well all we know was that she was in an accident. We don’t know what time it actually happened, but she was at the hospital at 4:30 yesterday morning when they brought her in.”

Jacqueline Woods

“What are her injuries?”

Pamela Gibson

“Right now she has swelling on the brain and she had a crack in her neck. She had an infection in her lungs, but the doctors have already taken care of that, so that’s not a problem anymore. She also broke one of her ankles, but she’s in a coma right now, so it’s very serious.”

The family is making arrangements to fly Smart to the United States for the urgent medical attention she needs. Jacqueline Woods reporting for News 5.

Up until the time of her accident, Tanya worked in the customer relations department at Belize Water Services.