1 dead and 6 injured in a traffic accident on the George Price Highway

A total of seven persons were injured in a traffic accident on Thursday evening. An SUV, heading toward Belize City, collided with a government vehicle en route to Belmopan. Three passengers travelling in the SUV sustained minor injuries and have been released from the hospital; three others remain hospitalized. But a government employee with the Ministry of Labour unfortunately did not survive the accident and died shortly after. News Five’s Duane Moody reports.

Duane Moody

“Just before news time on Thursday night, a traffic mishap occurred here on the George Price Highway in the Capital, Belmopan. Less than an hour later, forty-one year old Efrain Cowo perished while receiving treatment at the Western Regional Hospital. Three other persons travelling with him in the government have since been admitted in critical condition.”

Shortly before five p.m., the government issued vehicle of the Ministry of Rural Development was traveling to Belmopan, following a workshop held in Belize City. Driver Dale Banner and his passengers: Cowo, Ginee Neal and Kendra Arnold were on their way home from the seminar when tragedy struck. Upon reaching this area between miles forty-five and forty six, a Ford SUV traveling in the opposition direction slammed into them.

ASP Sinquest Martinez, O.C. Belmopan Police Formation

ASP Sinquest Martinez

“They responded to a fatal traffic accident involving government vehicle along with a Ford explorer. The government vehicle was traveling to the direction of Belmopan when the Ford explorer was traveling to Belize City. The collision occurred between mile forty-six and forty-seven and in respect of the collision we had one fatal, who is now Efrain Cowo.”

Gravel now marks the spot where the collision occurred, but from what we were able to gather, a huge crater—taking up the entire left portion of the pavement—was once there.  It is said that the SUV, driven at the time by forty-five year old Bert Ramos, avoided the pothole but swerved into the right lane causing the accident.

ASP Sinquest Martinez

“We are still doing our ground works pertaining to the investigations, statements need to be recorded, measurements have been taken; sketch plans have been drawn and when we are through with statements taken then we could actually know what actually transpired or who is at fault. But right now, at this present moment, I will not be able to say who is at fault at this moment.

Reporter

“From your investigation, have you been able to gather like we have that there is a pothole, a big crater that has been a nuisance to drivers and it is believed that this incident happened in that vicinity or was possibly caused by that crater?”

ASP Sinquest Martinez

“Just like what you got is what I understand, but like I said, the investigation will say what actually caused the accident and who is at fault.”

Mark Neal

Mark Neal, Father of Accident Victim

“They went down to do some work in Belize City. I think it is a meeting and coming up almost reaching Belmopan there is some potholes on the highway and I think one of the vehicles trying to divert from that and that is what caused the accident. I noh quite sure exactly what is the situation on that, but I know that is where the accident occurred.”

Also traveling in the vehicle with Ramos were nineteen year old Shevaughn Williams and twenty-two year old Avery Flores. They sustained minor injuries and were treated and released from the Western Regional Hospital. Arnold and Banner were transported to the K.H.M.H. Thursday night and by this afternoon; Neal was also transported to the K.H.M.H. Her Father, Mark Neal, says that her condition is critical.

Mark Neal

“Well right now the doctor has diagnosed her with a fracture on the right hand. She has a lot of body bruises and she has a neck sprain; she has on a neck brace. And right now she has a swelling on the left side of her head that is continuously swelling and right now we are getting ready to transport her to the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital for a complete head scan. She is still in pain and they just did an x-ray on her back and her back is damaged. We are not quite sure how bad, but they are diagnosing that at this time. So it is a very good idea to take her to Belize for the cat scan so we could see the further injury on her.”

Duane Moody for News Five.