B.D.F. Soldier Killed in Crash in Toledo District
Hipolito Sho
A member of the Belize Defence Force lost his life in a road crash on Wednesday. It happened in Toledo just before five o’clock when a motorcycle and a truck collided. The victim, Hipolito Sho, served for thirteen years in the B.D.F. and was a resident of Santa Elena Village in Toledo. Here’s the story.
Andrea Polanco, Reporting
Belize Defence Force Soldier Hipolito Sho died in a road traffic accident on Wednesday evening. Sho was driving this motorcycle when he collided into this white Digi truck on the outskirts of Jacintoville in Toledo.
On the Phone: Lt. Col. Anthony Velasquez, Chief of Staff, B.D.F.
“As far as we know, there was a motorcycle accident that occurred sometime yesterday around five p.m. where he unfortunately collided into another vehicle and that led to his fatal injury.”
According to police, the driver of the truck, a Digi technician, Jerry Nicholas reported that he saw a motorcycle travelling from the opposite direction in the same lane. Nicholas claims that he honked his horn, but the cycle continued in the same lane and collided into his truck. Photos from the accident scene shows a motorcycle with extensive damage to the front and Sho stretched out on the ground with head injuries. Responders to the scene tried to administer help but Sho died shortly after. Show was a Private class soldier in the B.D.F for more than ten years.
On the Phone: Lt. Col. Anthony Velasquez
“He is two-two-four-five-seven-three private Hipolito Sho served the B.D.F for thirteen years. He enlisted January 2008 and since his enlistment he has served the BDF in various capacities and more recently at the time of his death he was a soldier in the light engineer company and they do construction engineer type of work. He was attached to Two Battalion in Punta Gorda to assist with some construction work in that area.”
Chief of Staff Anthony Velasquez says Private Sho was well liked and will be missed. The B.D.F is providing assistance to the family.
On the Phone: Lt. Col. Anthony Velasquez
“Any loss is a shock and it is a shock to us in the B.D.F. His friends and colleague have all expressed their condolences to the family and among each other. He was well liked and he will be missed. The grieving process has started for us obviously here in the B.D.F and we have contacted his family and are presently making funeral arrangements and any other welfare issues that we might have to deal with in terms of the passing of Private Hipolito Sho.”
Reporting for News Five, I’m Andrea Polanco.
As a serving member of the B.D.F., Sho will receive a full military honor burial. Police have not yet said if charges will be filed against the driver of the truck.
