16-year-old Knocked Down and Killed in Santa Cruz Village

Joseph Myvett

The youngest victim in the spate of traffic fatalities is sixteen-year-old Jose Marquez. The Santa Cruz Village was knocked down between miles twenty and twenty-one on the Southern Highway as he rode his bicycle in the village. William Burke has been served with a notice of intended prosecution after he hit Marquez from behind. While Burke did not run away from the scene, in the aftermath of the accident, he was assaulted by residents who saw what happened. ACP Joseph Myvett says that to avoid any injury at the hands of the residents, Burke made his way to the police station a short distance away.

ACP Joseph Myvett, Head, National Crimes Investigation Branch

“On Saturday sometime around nine p.m., Santa Cruz Police in the Stann Creek District was called to an area between miles twenty and twenty-one on the Southern Highway where they observed the lifeless body of a Hispanic male later identified as Jose Marquez, sixteen years and not too far away from his body was a bicycle with extensive damages. One William Burke reported to police that he was south bound when he knocked down Marquez from behind. As a result, he drove directly to the police station where he handed in himself and made the report.”