Two dead in highway accidents

On Friday we gave a sketchy report of an accident on the Hummingbird Highway. Tonight we can confirm a fatality. Police say fifty-two year old Canadian Paul Steel, a longtime resident of San Pedro Town, was driving his pick up in the direction of Belmopan from Placencia when a loaded forty foot container truck rammed into him on a curve between miles twenty-four and twenty-five near Middlesex Village. Steel died at the scene. The driver of the big rig, Edwin Torres, has been arrested and is out on five thousand dollars bail. Torres, a resident of San Ignacio, told police that he saw the pick up slow down then swerve suddenly as if to make a U-turn. According to Torres, he honked his horn but could not prevent the collision. He has been charged with Manslaughter by Negligence, Causing Death by Careless Conduct, and Driving a Motor Vehicle without Due Care and Attention. His next court date is July seventh.

Meanwhile, a second accident involving a National Transport bus on Monday evening has claimed another life. The incident occurred around four forty-five between miles thirty seven and thirty eight on the Western Highway. Police say forty three year old Guadalupe Tzib told them that he was driving the bus from Belmopan towards Belize City when another bus from the Belize Bus Owners Cooperative overtook him and suddenly swerved back right in front of him. To prevent an accident, Tzib said he also swerved right but noticed a pedestrian and tried to swerve back on the road. However it was too late and he knocked down the man, who was pronounced dead on arrival at the Western Regional Hospital. Police have since charged Tzib with Manslaughter by Negligence. The other bus driver has been served with a notice of intended prosecution. The victim has been identified as Juan Herculeano de Jesus Franco.