Immigration Officer Perishes in Road Traffic Accident
Jessica Heusner
A road traffic accident last night claimed the life of immigration officer Jessica Heusner. It happened at around ten-thirty between miles eleven and twelve on the George Price Highway. Heusner had left Belize City and was headed home to Belmopan in her SUV. Fire officials say that she was attempting to overtake a vehicle when she collided into an oncoming freightliner truck. The head-on collision wrecked the front portion of the truck and caused the SUV to burst into flames with Heusner inside. Unfortunately, she could not be saved and perished in the blaze. Hipolito Novelo reports.
Hipolito Novelo, Reporting
On Thursday night, immigration officer Jessica Heusner departed Belize City in her SUV en route to Belmopan. Heusner managed to make it to mile eleven on the George Price Highway when the unforeseen occurred. At around ten-forty-five, emergency personnel, including police officers and firefighters were called to a gruesome scene. While on her way, Heusner reportedly lost control of the SUV and crashed into the rear wheels of a Freightliner truck. Immediately after, her vehicle burst into flames. Heusner perished in the blaze. One of her close friends, Natalie Hemmans, received the news via telephone.
Natalie Hemmans, Friend of Deceased
“I woke up this morning because of a phone call. A friend called me fifty-thirty this morning and she was telling me if I can please call Jessica to check up on her. But I called and the phone went to voicemail. I then called her friend who she was supposed to meet Saturday for a birthday, Danieli Grant. When I called Danieli that is when she told me that everybody is saying yes, but that she does not believe that it is true. I said I can’t believe it either.”
Heusner was heading to her home in Belmopan. As an immigration officer, she was posted in Belize City and would commute regularly. Before her untimely death, Heusner was seen at a popular watering hole, socializing with some friends.
Natalie Hemmans
Natalie Hemmans
“They say they saw her at D-Spot. She was hanging out with two males and two females. I am not exactly sure.”
Hipolito Novelo
“Do you believe from there she headed home?”
Natalie Hemmans
“Maybe she left from there and then she tried to head home. I am not sure if maybe she was drinking. Maybe she was drinking, maybe not. She told me Tuesday that Nats I thought I could commute from Belize City to Belmopan, but I think I need to find a space, I need to find somewhere to stay down here because I am tired. Jessica was always a person who has her wits. She knows, if she was drinking she knows how much to drink. She knows she has to drive. She wouldn’t over exceed the drinking. She says, it’s time for me to stop I need to drink water.”
Heusner, who was also pursuing a higher education, worked in the public service for more than ten years. She was in the process of completing her paperwork to finalize her promotion to head the department.
Natalie Hemmans
“She took study leave. She went back to school. She said that she will do it, she will reach there. She went back. She studied hard. She wanted to reach where she was supposed to reach. She was very dedicated. Sometimes she would come and say that she has a lot of work. I could only imagine. She was really committed though.”
Hipolito Novelo
“She was excited about her promotions.”
Natalie Hemmans
“Yes. She began on Monday. Well I guess it was in the process…”
Jessica Heusner
And now the process is left unfinished. For Hemmans, today has been tough as accepting the sudden passing of her loved one has left her reminiscing on the good times.
Natalie Hemmans
“She had love. She was loving. She was sweet. She was understanding. She made time to listen. She has such a pure loving sweet soul like she would look out for any and everyone. It does not matter if you stink, or duty. She looked, the appearance you would say that she is white girl but she was ‘ghettofied’ in her own special way.”
Heusner leaves behind two children. The drivers of the trucks have been served with a notice of intended prosecution. Hipolito Novelo, News Five.
