Woman Perishes in Vehicle Fire Near Cristo Rey
Irene Gonzalez
An employee of Blancaneaux Lodge lost her life in a massive fire that engulfed a sports utility vehicle on Sunday night in the Cayo District. Irene Gonzalez was driving alone along the San Antonio Road when the SUV went up in flames. It is unclear whether the thirty-year-old set the vehicle on fire or the vehicle combusted on its own. Earlier today, Gonzalez’s family visited the scene of the tragic fire. News Five’s Isani Cayetano reports.
Isani Cayetano, Reporting
In the sweltering mid-afternoon sun, the grief-stricken family of thirty-year-old Irene Gonzalez erects a shrine in her memory. The employee of Blancaneaux Lodge was traveling along the San Antonio Road sometime after nine p.m. on Sunday. Gonzalez was headed in the direction of Cristo Rey Village when the Toyota Forerunner she was driving went up in flames. Helpless, she was trapped inside the vehicle.
Hilberto Romero
ACP Hilberto Romero, Regional Commander, Eastern Division
“Police responded to a vehicle that was on fire on the Cristo Rey Road in the Cayo District. Upon their arrival, they saw a vehicle engulfed in flame. After the flames were extinguished and persons came to help, the lifeless body of a female was found inside the vehicle. She was identified as Irene Gonzalez. She was taken to the hospital thereafter where she was pronounced dead on arrival.”
Cesar Gonzalez was on hand today to remove the charred remains of the SUV from the scene of the deadly fire that claimed the life of his daughter.
Cesar Gonzalez
Cesar Gonzalez, Father of Deceased
“She, before she went, was a nice person. She was a nice worker. She was working a Blancaneaux Lodge. She was a supervisor. But to me, she was a beautiful, beautiful daughter. That’s it.”
Isani Cayetano
“How did you learn of this incident, did you get a call? Somebody informed you that something had happened?”
Cesar Gonzalez
“Well, I just got a call. By the time I come ih done deh on fire.”
Irene Gonzalez
Isani Cayetano
“Irene was coming from work? What brought her into the area?”
Cesar Gonzalez
“She was staying in San Antonio, but I don’t know, she was moving from here to there, I don’t know.”
According to the Belize Police Department, Irene Gonzalez was by herself at the time of the incident. Investigators are exploring the likelihood that she may have taken her own life.
ACP Hilberto Romero
“Investigation was that she was alone in the vehicle when the vehicle caught fire and she succumbed to injuries she received.”
Reporter
“Are police looking at this as a possible suicide considering that there are reports that she may have sent some distressing…”
Hilberto Romero
“Yes, that is an angle we are looking at. We are gathering information as to what she was going through at the time and that is the information we have. The fire department will provide a report and thereafter the investigation will determine what transpired there.”
Reporter
“Had she sent out text messages prior to…”
Hilberto Romero
“Yes, that is the information we have, yes. Correct.”
Isani Cayetano for News Five.
