P.U.P. Party Leader John Briceño Recovering; Bus Driver Charged

Edwin Hill & John Briceno

P.U.P. Leader John Briceño was released from Northern Medical Plaza over the weekend and is tonight at home recovering from injuries he sustained during a traffic accident on Friday morning in Rhaburn Ridge Village, Belize District. Briceño was being driven by Edwin Hill when his Toyota Prado SUV flipped several times near mile thirty-seven on the Philip Goldson Highway. He sustained a cut wound to the head, but luckily survived the ordeal, while Hill received superficial injuries, was treated and also released from the medical facility in Orange Walk Town.  Today, Assistant Commissioner of Police Joseph Myvett spoke on the accident, which occurred as a result of another that had happened seconds before, involving an Albion bus and a Toyota Rav4.

Joseph Myvett

ACP Joseph Myvett, Head, National Crimes Investigation Branch

“An investigation is still ongoing. Police have so far summoned the bus driver, Nadale Cajun for driving without due care and attention. The Honourable John Briceño and his driver have since been released from the hospital the very next day; they were only kept for observations. I can tell you that two small vehicles and a passenger bus were north bound and one of those vehicles which were at the front slowed down, causing the other vehicle to apply brake and in so doing, the bus was unable to stop and then veered into the oncoming lane and as a result of that, Mister Briceño’s driver, Mister Hill, in order to avoid a collision, drove off the road to the right which caused him to lose control of the vehicle. Had the bus maintained its required distance, then it would have been in a position to stop within a required time.”

Reporter

“So it is just the driver of the bus who you’d say was at fault?”

ACP Joseph Myvett

“At this point in the investigation, yes it is pointing to him, but the investigation is still ongoing.”