This was the scene around seven thirty this morning near mile eighty-two on the Northern Highway. One man lost his life while two others are recovering from the injuries they received. The crash occurred right at the entrance to Ranchito Village between a mini van taxi driven at the time by fifty six year old Alvin Leslie and a Ford Escort car driven at the time by forty one year old Marvin Martinez. Reports are the mini van was travelling south in the direction of San Joaquin Village and the car was travelling north.
Corozal police say they do not know if Martinez tried to get across the highway and slip past the oncoming vehicle, but as the car made the left turn to drive onto a feeder road, the van struck its right hand side. Martinez lost control of the Ford Escort. The car turned over once and landed back on its four wheels. The impact was so great that Leslie suffered severe head injuries and died shortly after being taken to the Corozal Hospital. A post mortem is scheduled for Wednesday in Belize City. As for the driver who is believed to have caused the accident? Martinez remains hospitalized with serious body injuries. Forty two year old Rose Orosco who was travelling in the van received minor injuries.
It was Corozal's first fatal traffic accident for 2008. The police are investigating and reminding drivers to remain courteous and cautious when using the highways.
