Was there no ambulance in Belmopan to assist accident victims?

Victoria Bol

In Monday’s newscast, we told you about a road traffic accident on the Hummingbird Highway that claimed the life of Victoria Bol. The forty-two year old resident of Silk Grass Village in Stann Creek was traveling south with two other persons in a black 2003 GMC Sierra pickup when upon reaching in front of the National Agriculture and Trade Show Grounds, the vehicle lost control and slammed into a police van heading in the opposite direction. Two others were injured and were taken to the Western Regional Hospital where they are now recovering, but Bol wasn’t so fortunate. The mother of five children was trapped in the extensively damaged pickup and died approximately an hour later. Today, her brother, Alfaro Bol, came to our office with information that, if it is true, is quite disturbing. Alfaro says that he was informed that there was no ambulance to respond to the accident because the Capital is without one.

Alfaro Bol, Brother of Deceased

“I was made to understand that there is no ambulance in Belmopan. Now Belmopan is the capital of our nation. If you look at other countries, most of these places would have two or three ambulances that could respond. If these trained personnel had responded, I would think that she could have probably be saved—they would have been able to put the neck-brace and but drips or whatever it is they need to do professionally, which they were trained to do. But I am grateful to those who assisted because last night I watched the news and saw footage of the scene and there were many people trying to assist and I am grateful for that, but they may have caused more injury than anything else I would think. That was just my opinion.  I was made to understand that she had hitched a ride with these persons that she knew and she was heading back to our initial place of birth, Silk Grass; we are from there in the Stann Creek District. So whilst they were travelling, this unfortunately, abruptly she lost her life.”

Alfaro Bol

Reporter

“About her as a person? How would you remember her?”

Alfaro Bol

“My sister was a loving person. She was friendly, she was outgoing; she was always making jokes, laughing. All those who knew her or knows her would remember her by that. She was never the one that would put a sad face; regardless of the circumstance. The persons, I know they are affected. When we had to break the news for them, they broke down and cried, screamed—especially my mom and dad. For years from a little boy, I never see my dad cry. When I had to call them a little bit after two in the morning, mien my mother just began wailing; began to cry and so forth. It is very disheartening at this moment. I mean we look around; this is the festive season—time of merry men, time of joy, sharing gifts. But for us as a family, we are grieving; it just came suddenly and we have to deal with it. it is a great loss to us.”