Family of five perishes in tragic highway collision

Irania & Zahar Rubio

It was a horrific accident, one of the deadliest and certainly the most gruesome, according to our records. A total of six persons died on the spot. The first accident led to the next at the same location at mile twenty-seven on the Western Highway on Saturday. An entire family of five perished early in the morning and hours later an employee of the Ministry of Works was killed.  The first wreckage occurred at around seven thirty in the morning while the second occurred shortly after three that afternoon while the Ministry’s excavator was attempting to remove the cargo truck from the Highway.  News Five’s Marion Ali traveled west today and joins Jose Sanchez in coverage of this tragic story. Here’s her first report.

Marion Ali

“The nation’s deadliest road traffic accident in recent years occurred along this straight stretch at mile twenty-seven on the Western Highway.  It involved this small car behind me with five family members travelling toward Belize City and a freight truck traveling in the opposite direction. The impact sent both vehicles veering across the opposites sides of the highway.  What happened is not yet exactly clear, and has left family members with more questions than answers.”

Albert Neal Sr., Father of Deceased Children

albert neal sr

“I just have a bad feeling about all this Marion. I am trying to figure this out because the way it happened you know, you could have slammed into the side of the truck and it bounce you back into your side of the road. But fi mek you go under di truck, dat noh sound too correct, ih noh look too correct.”

Marion Ali

“You don’t believe the driver lost control?”

Albert Neal Sr.

“I don’t want to comment that he didn’t lose control or he drop asleep. Maybe ih could ah drop ah sleep, ih could ah get a heart attack.  I can’t express to you exactly how I’m feeling right now but you know.”

Marion Ali

“I understand. You were close to your kids.”

Albert Neal Sr.

“I was very close to them, very close. Even when I’m abroad, I send the money weekly from the United States.”

Victor Navarro, Cousin of Accident Victim

victor navarro

“I mi supposed to drive di vehicle but ih look like she change plans and she decided to go with her husband and…”

Marion Ali

“You were taking them where?”

Victor Navarro

“To the airstrip in Belize City.”

Marion Ali

“Who was travelling?”

Victor Navarro

“She and all of them, her husband.”

Marion Ali

“What made her change her mind about you?”

Victor Navarro

“Maybe they were in a hurry trying to get a flight earlier and she decide to go because him and her cousin mi supposed to go wid her and she mi wah left all di kids he and she mi wah stay. But she changed her plans and she decided to go with him and ih look like something bad happen.”

Albert Neal Senior was waiting in Belize City for his two children, seven year old Janelle and six year old Albert Junior when he received the tragic news that they had been killed along with their little brother, five month old Zahar Rubio, their mother, twenty-four year old Irania Rubio and her common-law husband, forty one year old Jose Nunez.

Albert Jr. & Janelle Neal

Albert Neal Sr.

“I called them on Wednesday and I asked my two kids what color bikes they would want so my daughter gave the phone to her mother and said well instead of you bring the bike here, why don’t we come to Belize and we go buy the bikes of their choice. So I said okay, I’ll wait for you by where I work with Sikaffy store and you meet me there and we go buy the bike and unu depart from dat. Unfortunately, they caught up in the accident which was not a pleasant sight to see.”

Marion Ali

“They were heading to Belize City for those bikes.”

Albert Neal Sr.

“Yes, they were on their way to the airport coming to drop off this guy who was with them.”

miguel che

The truck driver, Miguel Che, has been a truck driver with Cemento Maya for several years and was transporting four passengers and seven hundred sacks of cement to San Ignacio.  None of his passengers suffered major injuries.  He relived the incident.

Miguel Che, Truck Driver

“I di drive and I see the car di come. Ih di come good pan fi he right. suddenly he turn and like he di come faster. I just watch weh pah ih gwein fi mek I move or do something right. When I si—I try blow like three times fi di man and I si dat he di come fast and he can’t—ih no move out ah di way. I haul di truck wah lee bit but like di truck noh go fast.  I feel bad. I just see ih get kinda dizzy and just like I seh I can’t do nothing more.”

Gilbert Guerra was a passenger in the freight truck and saw the accident as it unfolded.

Gilbert Guerra, Eyewitness

gilbert guerra

“I was coming to that direction going to Cayo and I was trying to get asleep. I saw the car coming, he saw it. So I was trying to get asleep but then I remembered my father-in-law he was shaking my hand. So when he was moving my hand I just open my eyes fast and I saw the car was coming straight to we. Just when I hear the impact I feel the car went underneath the truck. So when I open my eyes it was in the bush.”

Jose Sanchez

“So the car came on your side of the road?”

Gilbert Guerra

“Yes, he come straight to we.”

Saturday’s traffic accident happened within a quarter mile from a previous accident which claimed a total of six lives on January twentieth, 2003.  Police continue to investigate the cause of Saturday’s tragedy. Marion Ali for News Five.

The mother and three children will be laid to rest on Tuesday in Las Flores.