Local butcher killed during accident at Western Highway roundabout
Rafael Torres
In addition to the murder victims, two more persons lost their lives in vehicular accidents. On Saturday evening, a few minutes before four p.m., Aaron Coleman was driving his green Ford Ranger on the Southern Highway. When the thirty-three year old mechanic of Big Falls Village arrived at Tambran Village between miles sixty-six and sixty-seven, he saw a child on a red beach cruiser bicycle approaching. Coleman tried to avoid hitting the child, but he was unable to avoid contact. The minor received head injuries and he was rushed to the Punta Gorda Town Hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival. The boy has been identified as Rufino Xi, a ten year old student of Golden Stream Village. A little more than half an hour before that accident occurred, a Belize City butcher lost his life when he was merely a few blocks from his home. News Five’s Jose Sanchez reports.
Jose Sanchez, Reporting
A Belize City man who spent the last nine years riding to and from the Meat Shop near the Belcan Bridge has been killed in a tragic accident. On Saturday evening, twenty five year old Rafael Torres, a butcher, was on his way to his Iguana Street home. But his life was cut short at the roundabout located near the Western Highway entrance to Belize City. According to the police, Torres was riding a beach cruiser bicycle on the right side of Central American Boulevard and upon reaching the intersection of the roundabout he attempted to pass on the right side of the truck, which was being driven at the time by forty nine year old Alberto Morey. 
Morey was driving a blue truck with international license plate PQ-2825 and a white trailer with license plate PA-542. The police say that Morey was already on the roundabout when the handle of the bicycle made contact with the right, rear side of the trailer. Torres lost control, fell to the ground, and his head was crushed. His family is still in shock; however, they say that he leaves behind one child. Reporting for News Five, Jose Sanchez.
RIP. At the same time GOB must address the horrific murder rate in the Jewel, it should also create a programme to increase traffic safety — better roads, but also better enforcement and public awareness of traffic safety.
I think it should be MANDATORY for children, at least, to wear helmets on bicycles. When a young skull splats the pavement, even in a routine accident, the child’s brain can suffer devastating, life-changing harm. Bikes are good and necessary, but we can easily make their use a lot safer.
Do any medical professionals agree?
this is sad, and i am not saying whose fault it is, i.e. if any body has fault…but i would like to urge all readers who have friends or family who are cyclists to please follow the rules of the road. I find that many cyclists and even pedestrians dont follow the traffic laws….for examples, stopping at a stop sign, running the lights, riding against the flow of traffic, having two on a bike….these laws are all placed there for the safety of all.