Deputy Mayor says alcohol not a factor in crash

Deputy Mayor Michael also took the opportunity to weigh in on a story we ran on Monday night’s newscast. He says preliminary investigations have revealed that alcohol was not a factor in the accident that caused one of their traffic officers, Mark Banner, to crash into a light pole near the Bridge Foot over the weekend. Banner, along with two passengers, also employees of the Traffic Department, were on their way from a party Friday night when the incident occurred.

Anthony Michael, Deputy Mayor, Belize City Council
“Indeed there was an accident and indeed this person was attending a party at the traffic building. It was for one of their employees, it was a birthday party. What we’ve found out so far is that it was not caused by alcoholic drinking but the ball joint of the vehicle. I think when they went out there and did their investigation, you could see where it had fell off and it made the mark on the road; so it was caused by the ball joint got loose and ran into the lamppost. But we—indeed although we—preliminary investigation has led us to that, we are still doing our investigation and if needs be then disciplinary action will be taken.”

Jacqueline Godwin
“Okay. In the meantime though, he is working?”

Anthony Michael
“Yes, he is working because all indication is, is that he was not drunk or there wasn’t any alcohol found. As rumours had it, is that when they opened the car the following day it had a high stench of alcohol content. But it’s rumour, but nevertheless we are looking into it as concerned council.”

Likewise, police say they too are investigating the incident.