Head-on Collision on Mameyal Curve Claims Two Lives
Two men were killed in a traffic accident on the Philip Goldson Highway on Saturday morning. The mishap happened at the famous Mameyal Curve near the entrance to San Roman Village and involved a pickup and a motorcycle on which the two victims were travelling. The victims are two men who lived about twenty minutes away in San Ramon Village. They were heading to work when the head-on collision occurred. And police say that behind the steering wheel was Victor Castillo, who they have served with a Notice of Intended Prosecution. News Five’s Marion Ali reports.
Marion Ali, Reporting
This sharp bend at mile sixty-five on the Philip Goldson Highway is responsible for at least nine fatalities in the past five years. And this cross marks the spot where the two latest two victims, San Roman residents, twenty-four-year-old Ruperto Carlos Novelo and twenty-nine-year-old Alex Mejias Calderon died Saturday morning. Novelo’s father, Ruperto Novelo, told News Five that the two were heading to work as they did every morning around that time. Within minutes, Ruperto received the bad news that he had lost his only son.
Ruperto Novelo
Ruperto Novelo, Father of Deceased
“Bout 6:30 when I get the message that they see my son there, almost dead because it didn’t take long. My son in law, he died, I think, at once. When I get that news, I try to get somebody to ker me, but I couldn’t get it. I get it afterwards, but it was too late, noh? I couldn’t get it in time.”
Marion Ali
“When you got there, what did you see?”
Ruperto Novelo
“Well, when I get there, I see the police. They were checking, you know, taking measurements.”
Victor Castillo
Both men died at the scene. Information is that the pick-up was overtaking another vehicle and was in the lane of the oncoming motorcycle. The driver of the vehicle was freelance reporter Victor Castillo, of Belize Live News. Today, the Belize Police Department’s Eastern Division Commander, A.C.P Hilberto Romero said that if the investigation shows what the reports of the ground suggest, he will be charged.
Hilberto Romero
A.C.P. Hilberto Romero, Regional Commander, Eastern Division
“Information is that the pickup was heading to Corozal when it collided with the motorcycle. Both persons were taken to the Northern Regional Hospital where they were pronounced dead on arrival. Investigation into this matter continues. The driver has been served with an NIP and samples obtained for testing.”
Ruperto Novelo reminisces on the last conversation that he and Carlos had just one day before. It was to help husk these coconuts to make coconut oil.
Ruperto Novelo
“Friday afternoon ih come from ih work he take tea and then I was peeling coconuts. I was – so my son tell me, “You going to peel coconuts?” I tell him yes. “Father, Sunday I can help you.” It’s okay, son. But that never happened because when he moved to Saturday, he never turn back again.”
Ruperto Novelo was the father of a child, aged two and his common-law wife is expecting to deliver their second child in November. Marion Ali for News Five.
