Stop signs to blame for crash

Because of all the confusion resulting in frequent accidents at the junction of North Front and Douglas Jones Streets, the traffic department has changed the stop signs from North Front Street to Douglas Jones, changing the right of way. However, the move, which was designed to ease the flow of traffic, did just the opposite today and resulted in an accident involving three vehicles, including one driven by Senator Audrey Matura.

Clifton Mejia, Eyewitness

“I was standing over there by the bridge, right there and I see the vehicle coming down North Front Street there. And I saw the Trooper come out of the lane there with speed and knocked the vehicle and went up in the air and came down and knocked another vehicle that was parked at the mouth of the bridge.”

Zeida Lopez, Passenger

“Me and my husband were going home and I saw the van coming this way and the car coming this way. To me it looked kind of close and I told my husband, “Oh my God we will crash.” So I put down my head because we did not want to see. After that I just felt a knock.”

Audrey Matura Tillett, U.D.P. Senator

“Because of the nature of this accident, I wouldn’t want to comment on the details because I am sure the different parties involved will have their own version and witnesses too. I leave that to the authorities. But basically one of the problems is the change of the sign. Earlier this morning traffic wardens were out here although I wasn’t driving out here, my husband was. I didn’t notice the traffic wardens. So with that you don’t really notice what was happening; the wardens determine when you move or not. But that is as much as what I want to say right now.”

The eyewitness we spoke to says that he believes the accident was caused because of the change of the sign.

Clifton Mejia

“Due to the change of the sign, because people are already getting control and the sign was running the bridge free. And I would say that they should stop the freeness of the bridge and make North Front Street free. So it was wrong altogether.”

Hyacinth Latchman for News Five.

News Five attempted to speak to a traffic warden on the scene but he said his superior told him wardens are not in a position to comment to the media. Information reaching News Five is that prior to the accident Senator Tillett had a heated argument with a female employee at Belize Electricity Limited on Magazine Road.