The fatality count in last Saturday's accident on the Northern Highway doubled today. On Saturday June 19th Belizean-American Shawn Smith was returning home for the first time in twenty years to give her sister a surprise (Tragic End to Reunion for 3 Sisters). But that special moment never happened because she died when the Subaru car she was in, which was driven by Thaddeus young, collided with a Honda Accord driven by Valentine Ferguson.
Shawn Smith was finally buried today, but the tragedy of the accident continues to unfold. Just as the funeral was on police were preparing charges for Valentine Ferguson who police now allege was driving drunk. He appeared before a Magistrate charged with causing Smith's death and injuring the other passengers in her vehicle. Ferguson who broke his own leg in the deadly collision was charged with manslaughter by negligence and causing death by careless in the death of Shawn Smith. For another passenger Alidia Morey he was charged with negligent grievous harm and then for a third passenger Alton Morey Jr. he was read charges of driving without due care and attention and negligent harm.
Ferguson faced additional charges of driving with alcohol concentration above the prescribed limit and negligent grievous harm to Millicent Herrera who was his passenger and his common-law wife. We say was because this afternoon just as he was being arraigned, he got the news that Hererra had died while undergoing surgery at the KHMH. In the accident Hererra had suffered a broken leg, her hands were crushed, and her hip was broken. Hospital authorities believe Millicent Hererra's heart failed during surgery because of her age and the level of injury. That extra bad news also meant extra charges for Valentine Ferguson who 7NEWS has confirmed police are now prepared to charge with manslaughter by negligence for his common-law wife's death. For the other charges though, no plea was taken and he was released on $5,000 bail plus 2 sureties of $2,500 each. At least on those charges, he is due back in court on July 23rd.