Driver convicted in 2004 traffic death

Two years after a fatal traffic accident on the Northern Highway, a driver involved in the incident has been found guilty of related offences. On Monday, a jury of nine convicted forty-five year old Valentine Ferguson of Manslaughter by Negligence in connection with the death of thirty-two year old Shawn Smith on June nineteenth. On that day Smith was returning to Belize after living in the United States for some eighteen years and had accepted a ride to Belize City. But as the Blue Subaru Sedan Smith was travelling in reached the curve at mile eight on the Northern Highway it crashed head on into a white Honda Accord driven at the time by Ferguson. In his report to police, Ferguson told investigators that he lost control of the car causing it to cross the centre line and collide with the other vehicle. As a result of the impact, Smith received severe head and body injuries and died on the spot. Another passenger Millicent Herrera also died from injuries sustained in the collision. The case was heard before Justice Adolph Lucas and prosecuted by Tracy Sosa. Ferguson, who was defended by Linsbert Willis, will be sentenced on November seventeenth.