The search continues tonight for the hit and run driver who killed 48-year-old Daniel Diaz outside of Orange Walk Town on Monday night. He was riding his bike between miles 55 and 56, just half a mile from his home in Trial Farm Village, when he was killed. Tonight police in Orange Walk say they are following up on new leads but they've made no arrests. And while they investigate, today we learnt more about the Diaz's cruel death. We teamed up with our colleagues at the Northern Cable Network who went to Trial Farm Village to get the story from Diaz's family.
Keith Swift Reporting,
This is a picture of 48-year-old Daniel Diaz in happier times with his youngest and oldest sons. But on Monday this family was shattered when Daniel Diaz was mowed over on the Northern Highway. He was killed on this stretch of highway - this blood marks the spot where he was killed - the spot where
he was run over by a driver who fled. This is the bicycle he was riding and this gives you an idea of the impact. He was killed half a mile from his home. His wife Maria Lena Perez was home when the accident occurred.
Maria Perez,
"I heard someone from over there was calling, 'mom, junior - they killed your dad.' I didn't hear well because something was on the television and I said to myself, oh my goodness - they killed Daniel so I went outside running and I heard a lot of noise and I saw them running to the hospital. I was running and then I didn't believe it was Daniel but when my oldest child came back - he told me mom they killed my dad and I still didn't believe and he said yes.."
Maria Perez says that the last time she saw her husband alive was earlier that night. He was drinking and heavily intoxicated. But for her, that was nothing new.
Maria Perez,
"They were at the bar and I said, 'oh my gosh he is drunk,' and I asked his child if his father has given him any money. He told me no he didn't give me anything. I said, 'watch your dad,' and he replied to me, no, leave it like that. I told him your father doesn't think. He is always getting drunk and nothing more."
Police say they suspect alcohol was a factor in Daniel Diaz's death but second in command of Orange Walk Police Inspector Alden Dawson says that doesn't make his killer any less responsible.
Inspector Alden Dawson, Orange Walk
"That area is an isolated area and there was no witness at that scene that we've come across so far."
Jorge Aldana, CTV-3
"Had he been drinking?"
Inspector Alden Dawson,
"At this time I cannot say if he had been drinking however sometime later that will be confirmed. As usual the police ask the public for assistance in solving this crime. We also want to advise people to ride bicycles with lights on the roads at nice. It is very dangerous, especially in these dark areas and an incident may happen when there is a bicycle on the road without lights. People need to remember that bicycles are vehicles and should have lights."
Again police are following up on those new leads but anyone with information is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 0-800-922-TIPS.
