Prime Minister’s Driver Knocks Down and Kills John Doe on Philip Goldson Highway
Edwin Hill
There was a fatal traffic mishap last evening involving the prime minister’s driver during which he knocked down and killed a man believed to be a resident of Biscayne Village. Up to news time this evening, the victim remains unidentified. Edwin Hill and two other occupants were traveling in his private SUV en route to Orange Walk. Somewhere between miles twenty-four and twenty-five, Hill reportedly observed a man on a bicycle veering across the highway. Despite his effort to avoid hitting the cyclist, the unnamed individual was hit by the vehicle and he received massive head injuries. News Five’s Isani Cayetano reports.
Isani Cayetano, Reporting
An unidentified man lost his life on Sunday night while riding this bicycle in Biscayne Village. The fatal road traffic accident happened somewhere between miles twenty-four and twenty-five along the Philip Goldson Highway, shortly after seven p.m. Also traversing that dimly lit stretch of road was fifty-eight-year-old Edwin Hill. He is the longtime driver for Prime Minister John Briceño.
Chester Williams
Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police
“The cyclist was hit and was transported to the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital where he later succumbed to his injuries. Mr. Hill was taken to the Ladyville Police Station where he made a report and cooperated fully with investigators. So presently, investigators are putting the file together, recording statements from witnesses we will be sending the file to the Director of Public Prosecutions for her determination on the matter.”
According to Hill, he was accompanied by two other passengers inside this blue GMC Acadia when he observed a male person swerving on the highway. The driver reportedly made an attempt to avoid hitting the cyclist, but that effort was in vain.
Chester Williams
“Based on what the investigation is showing so far is that the cyclist was the one who swerved in the path of Mr. Hill’s oncoming vehicle, but we are not going to say at this time who is at fault. We will put the file together and send it to the DPP. In these types of cases, we would normally not arrest somebody right away unless there is clear indication that the driver is at fault or in situations where drivers would have refused to cooperate by giving blood or urine sample to test if they were under the influence. That would normally just give an NIP and we send the driver home until the investigation is over then it goes to the DPP and then determination is made there.”
The victim is described as having his hair in dreadlocks and was wearing a pair of three-quarter cargo shorts. The sports utility vehicle that fatally knocked him down received damages to the right front bumper, right light and rearview mirror. In the wake of that mishap, questions are being raised whether preferential treatment will be afforded to Hill.
Chester Williams
“Yes, they are going to be those who will want to say da because da di prime minister driver, but I would just invite them to look at the history, to look to see how we have dealt with situations like these in the past and they will see that no special treatment is being given to Mr. Hill due to the fact that he is the prime minister’s driver.”
Paul Lopez
“I’m saying, in a case like this, will he continue to drive for the prime minister while the investigation continues? Is there anything the police can do to kind of intervene and stop that from happening in the process of the investigation?”
Chester Williams
“ No. That’s a matter for the prime minister to decide. But Mr. Hill is free to drive, like any ordinary person. If you were to be involved in an accident right now and you kill somebody, the police have no authority to tell you [that] you can’t drive. You can continue to drive until the matter goes to court. If the court finds you guilty and the court suspends your license then you are unable to drive. But in the time being, you can drive.”
A urine sample has been taken from Edwin Hill. He was also served with a notice of intended prosecution. We note that in August 2019, Hill and then Opposition Leader John Briceño survived a near-fatal road traffic accident along the Philip Goldson Highway in the vicinity of Rhaburn Ridge. In that incident, Hill, who was behind the wheel of a Toyota Prado, lost control of the SUV when he swerved to avoid a collision with a commuter bus. The vehicle flipped several times before coming to rest on the opposite side of the road near mile thirty-seven. Hill and Briceño received varying degrees of injury and were transported to the Northern Medical Plaza in Orange Walk Town. Isani Cayetano for News Five.
