Oscar Rodas Perishes in Fatal RTA on Boom/Hattieville Road
Oscar Rodas
In Monday’s newscast, we reported on the triple fatality on the Philip Goldson Highway that claimed the life of three Davis’ women. That road traffic accident occurred on Friday night when the driver of the pickup truck they were travelling in lost control of the vehicle and careened off the highway and crashed. Even before that story could have aired, there was yet another fatal road traffic accident reported in the Belize District; this time on the Boom/Hattieville Road. Oscar Rodas was flung to his death from the pan of a pickup truck that crashed into another. By all accounts speeding was a factor in the accident. News Five’s Duane Moody reports.
Duane Moody, Reporting
Oscar Rodas was travelling in the pan of a white Ford pickup driven by Marvin Cal, a twenty-five-year-old construction worker. They were heading towards the Philip Goldson Highway on the Boom/Hattieville Road when they crashed into a Dodge Dakota pickup travelling in the opposite direction and driven by Gilbert Gillett. That vehicle carried an aluminium trailer hitched to the back of the truck. The impact from the collision flung Rodas to the pavement and his death.
Rosa Reyes
Rosa Reyes, Common-law Wife of Deceased
“I was in shock. I couldn’t believe it because what happened he just tell me that he will catch a ride and then he gwen by my house and I was not expecting this to happen. It is a shocking thing to be in this situation.”
Duane Moody
“Where was he coming from or going?”
Rosa Reyes
“He was working at Cattouse sand pit. He was working there and he just called me saying that he done ready fi come home. He wanted us to come and pick him up, but we neva make it beucase he catch a ride.”
Duane Moody
“So he was catching a ride to Tropical Park?”
Rosa Reyes
“Tropical Park. He wanted to go to Tropical Park yes.”
Rodas, a Guatemalan truck driver, was getting a ride home. He lived on Hector Creek Road in the Tropical Park area of Hattieville. So why were they heading in the opposite direction?
Diana Umanzor
Diana Umanzor, Stepdaughter of Deceased
“What I heard from the whole scene is that the pickup truck had four people inside and what happened is that they were in a rush because they wanted to chase the bus that was going to Orange Walk, because they were two workers that are from Orange Walk. I guess that’s what happened. He went with them, without knowing that was going to happen.”
Travelling in the Ford pickup along with Cal were Thomas Menensez and Rodel Coye. They received injuries to the body and were rushed to the K.H.M.H. for medical treatment. Meanwhile, Gillett was travelling in the Dakota truck along with Joseph Segura and Abdul Myvett. They, too, complained of pain and were transported to the hospital for treatment. Rodas was pronounced dead by a medical doctor a few hours later. It’s tough times for the family as he was the breadwinner.
Rosa Reyes
“He had just come back from Guatemala. He wanted to live here in the city. He wanted to live with his mother. His mom is in the states right now, but she lives in Lord’s Bank. She is temporarily in the states and then she comes back to Ladyville, I mean to Lord’s Bank.”
Duane Moody
“Did he have any kids?”
Rosa Reyes
“Yes. He had three daughters and a son. He was so joyful; he was so happy and he was very friendly with people, helpful to others. If he sees you on the street and you wanted some assistance from him, it doesn’t matter, he would stop and try to assist you in anything.”
Diana Umanzor
“I will miss his humour. He is a very good person. He always help me a lot too and he is very hard working too so I am going to miss him a lot.”
Gillett has since been served with a notice of intended prosecution. Duane Moody for News Five.
