Tour ends in accident in Esperanza village
Just before five p.m. on Tuesday, a traffic accident occurred in the village of Esperanza. Allen Obando and Devon Harris were riding home when a van, carrying tourists and reportedly belonging to Pacz Tours, hit the two cyclists. Harris landed in the nearby bushes, but Obando was dragged some distance away before the driver realized that he had hit him. Obando received abrasions to the hip, leg, back and other parts of his body. He was rushed to the San Ignacio hospital by a vehicle heading to the twin towns and then later he was transported by ambulance to the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital. The thirty-year old was released this afternoon and before departing to Esperanza he recounted to Duane Moody the traumatic experience.
Allen Obando, Accident Victim
Allen Obando
“About minutes to five, me and my work partner were going home and a van came up from behind us and hit both of us. When I realized I was underneath the van dragging and shouting out for the driver to stop. He dragged me about a hundred and fifty yards from the other guy. I see it coming. I reached out and I put my hand on the bumper when I see the wheel running right next to my hip. So I just shift over a little bit so the wheel don’t grab me and pull me under. And then it dragged me from off the road, on the pavement and a guy, one of my friend, run and shouted and tell the driver make ih stop cause I deh underneath. Ina the time when that mi di happen, all ah this yah mi di rub and burn out and I knock pan the van like that soh fi make the van stop but cho. Dah like ih mi wha hit and run I was at the back and the other guy was at the front. When ih hit me, ih dragged me under. And the other guy, he was on another bicycle so when ih knock he ih just pitch he ina the bushes. The doctors in San Ignacio told me that I had a fractured hip from the impact of the vehicle.”
Duane Moody
“What are the doctors here in Belize City saying?”
Allen Obando
“They said I have a slight fracture to the risk and to the spine.”
Duane Moody
“Is this going to pose as a problem later on for you to walk?”
Allen Obando
“I am really not sure because I am in a lot of pain and I don’t know when I will be able to recover.”
According to Obando, following the accident, a representative from Pacz Tours contacted them saying that their insurance company will cover the medical costs. San Ignacio Police are investigating.
I hope for a speedy recovery and can only hope he is receiving treatment to prevent complications from the fracture.
Talking about being civilized, I hope the insurance carried by the tour operator is designed to indemnify both first party and third party for bodily injuries and property damage rather than to incarcerate unlicensed and uninsured drivers and other nonsensical , deranged ideations to emanate from the silly Minister in charge. I bring this topic up for discussion to provide my fellow Belizeans with a forum for their introspective observation of our laws in operation. My findings are that they stink and don’t provide justice. So let’s hear your take!!!
And the driver? Is anybody doing anything about the driver? We really getting lawless and out of hand now. Next thing this poor man will hear is that nobody will pay his expenses cause no police report exists. Thank goodness they have witnesses. If i were him i would sue pacz tours for a million dollars – see if they no speed up and attend to him then.
That is why d owner of pacz tour is in jail
happy to hear that COCO
That’s one lucky cyclist to survive such an incident! I hope he has a full recovery.
Belize have a terrible rate in accidents. Nephew sorry you are going through this. My thoughts and prayers goes out to you. Nephew hope your get your lawyer take them to court, do not let them bully you. This accident could have kill you, your mother is looking out for you. she is watching from above. Im sorry i can not be at home with you while your are going through this right now. But im sure someone got paid off, no one will do time for this. The tour company will go one like nothing ever happen. He is some son, someone father someone husband, if he is hurt badly how they expect hime to provide for his family. Im sure they are not thing of that. some needs to go to jail for this crime.