Motorcyclist dies following hit and run accident

A traffic accident in Belize City has resulted in the death of a young man and tonight his grieving relatives need your help to track down the hit and run driver.

Jacqueline Godwin, Reporting
Around one-thirty on Saturday morning, twenty-three year old Jerry Solwin Romero had just taken a friend home on Cemetery Road and was riding his motorcycle over the Pound Yard Bridge when he was knocked down at the corner of East Collet Canal and Cemetery Road by a grey Ford Escort.

Reports suggest that the car ran the stop sign at the intersection and broadsided the bike. Romero was thrown from the motorcycle and suffered severe head trauma, massive internal bleeding and a broken right leg. While the driver of the car did not stop to help Romero, an eyewitness and residents of the area rushed the victim to the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital but he died two hours later.

Pauline Rodriquez Romero, Sister-in-Law of the Deceased
“This person did not stop to render help and from everyone who I have spoken to in the medical field, the police department, they are saying that split second decision is what is the difference between life and death and while we know that nothing can ever bring back Jerry, we want to ask whoever is responsible to please come forward and take responsibility because it is a life.”

Today the Romero family is appealing to the driver to come forward as well as the person who reportedly witnessed the accident to please get in touch with them.

Pauline Rodriquez Romero
“There is a man who saw exactly what happened. We do not know his name, we only that he is of Creole descent. We do know that he is the person who started screaming for help and we do know that when Jerry was knocked down he was crying for help too and no one stopped by but this person rendered help to him and neighbours living in the area rendered help and we want to also ask that witness, whoever you are sir, we won’t identify you. If you don’t want to go to the police go to the Ombudsman and just give whatever information you can.”

Belize City police say they are following a number of leads but so far have been unable to locate the driver and vehicle. Relatives say Jerry was always a happy person and a budding artist who was looking forward to publicly showcase his paintings.

Pauline Rodriquez Romero
“Why he had to leave us, we do not know but we want to ask the person who is responsible or the persons whether it is male or female, we know it is an accident. Perhaps you were frightened maybe the person was drunk or drugged up, we don’t know but please take responsibility because this is a life.”

Reports are that the police were given a license plate number and tonight investigators are attempting to verify whether those numbers are in fact registered to the car that knocked down twenty-three year old Jerry Romero.

Reports are that the Police were given a license plate number but investigators have determined that those plates were stolen from a similar car. Again, authorities are asking mechanics to report any damaged ford escorts brought in for repairs.