Andre Torres fined for fatal traffic accident

A primary school teacher of Belize City was today spared from going to jail and instead was slapped with a fine of thirteen thousand dollars. Twenty-nine year old Andre Torres has to pay two persons for the death of his friend, seventeen year old Emelio Armando Santiago, a student who lost his life in a traffic accident on December seventh, 2008 between miles four and five on the Western Highway. Torres pleaded guilty this morning before Justice Michelle Arana to Manslaughter by Negligence. She ordered him to pay seven thousand dollars to the court by November twentieth, 2010. He was further ordered to pay a compensation fine of six thousand dollars to the family of the deceased by December twentieth, 2010. In default, his assets will be seized. Torres’ license was also revoked for the next two years. Torres was also charged with one count of Negligent Grievous Harm upon sixteen year-old Chereese Lino, who survived the accident. Lino suffered two fractured hands during the accident but today when she took the stand, she told the court that she does not want to proceed with the matter. Justice Arana dismissed that charge. Torres lost control of the Mitsubishi pick-up truck they were travelling in and collided into a lamp post. Santiago and a third passenger were flung from the vehicle. When police responded to the accident, Santiago was found lying in a busy area off the highway with severe injuries.