Two pedestrians killed on N. Hwy; O.W. Mayor is driver

A man and a little girl are dead following a traffic accident and the driver under investigation is the Mayor of Orange Walk Town, Ravei Gonzalez. The incident occurred around six o’clock Sunday evening near mile thirty-five on the Northern Highway. The victims are Honduran Manuel Coto and his two year old neighbour, Martita Yolanda Lopez, both of the community of Rhaburn Ridge. According to the child’s parents, Miguel Angel Lopez and Marta Yolanda Garcia, Coto was walking Martita on a bicycle as they headed down the road to attend a wake. During a news conference this afternoon, Police Public Relations Officer, Clement Palacio, said the case file has been forwarded to the D.P.P’s office to determine whether any charges will follow.

Miguel Angel Lopez, Father of Deceased Child (Translated)
“She was going to a wake with my friend, Manuel Coto. He was walking her on his bicycle about five or ten meters in front. We were behind. A car was coming from the other direction and one was coming behind us. The one in the opposite direction put on his high beam and the one behind us knocked them down. The driver came out of the vehicle crying.”

Clement Palacio, Police Press Officer
“The mayor was driving heading towards Orange Walk and based upon what has been told, a vehicle was coming in the other direction. The people were along the side of the road and they got hit. So evidently he did not see them. When we can’t presume what really happened an investigation is conducted and then a notice of intended prosecution is served, which has been done in this case. And of course they have told me that the notice of intended prosecution has been served. The mayor was taken to Orange Walk and he voluntarily gave a sample for a urine test. We all know this is standard procedure.”

The child’s mother told the media that Mayor Gonzalez has promised to cover the funeral expenses and has helped her contact her family abroad.