Woman crushed between a vehicle and her house

Inspector Julius Cantun

There was a tragic accident in San Lazaro in the Orange Walk District on Tuesday, which claimed the life of fifty-four year old Magdalena Castellanos. Castellanos was at her home in the village when a friend from her church came to drop something off. The woman was sitting in front of her home when the vehicle driven by that friend slammed into her, pinning her against the house. Today, Deputy Officer Commanding the Orange Walk Police formation Julius Cantun told us that by the time they were called to the Northern Regional Hospital, Magdalena Castellanos was dead.

Inspector Julius Cantun, Second OC, Orange Walk Police Formation

“The deceased sometime around nine-thirty a.m was seated in front of her house when a friend of hers who was going to pay her a visit. She was driving a blue Mazda, license plate number OWC17899 and she drove off the main road in San Lazaro, driving into the yard approaching the house of the deceased where she was seated in front of the house. When the driver applied brakes the vehicle failed to stop as a result the vehicle went straight into the deceased crushing her between the vehicle and the wall of the house. We have gotten statements from the driver, the vehicle will be inspected by the motor vehicle inspector and he will give us his report in regards to his findings. The post mortem is being conducted today at twelve-thirty in Belize City, so basically that is what we have so far. No charges have been placed against the driver pending the consultation with the director of the public prosecutions.”

Family members today told us that when they rushed to help Castellanos, she was unconscious but there was no obvious sign of injury or blood on her. She stopped breathing on the way to the hospital. Of note is that there was an attempt to transport Castellanos in the vehicle which hit her, but the brakes were not working. Late this evening, the results of a post-mortem examination confirmed that she died as a result of her lungs being punctured by splintered ribs as a consequence of the impact.