He was supposed to leave Belize yesterday to go to China to be at his ailing father’s bedside. But 21-year-old Wei Hao Deng never made it on the plane. That is because he was killed in a terrible traffic accident on Friday night. He lives in Corozal but the accident occurred in Belize City one Coney Drive which is known for high speed driving. His cousin 19-year-old Zhi Heng Deng was driving and he is now facing criminal charges.
Our coverage though begins on the scene of one of the most violent one car accidents we’ve seen within city limits. The 7NEWS team was first on the scene and Keith Swift has the story.
Keith Swift Reporting,
When we arrived on the scene Friday night fire fighters had just retrieved the body of 21 year old Wei Hao Deng – known to his friends as Josh – from the car. He was trapped in the backseat of the Lexus and was cut out using
what’s called a Hurst-ram. And while they freed him – they couldn’t save him. The impact from the violent crash had apparently crushed him.
Josh Deng was one of two passengers in the backseat. 19-year-old Zhi Heng Deng – known to his friends as Dennis Deng - was driving the 2001 Lexus on Coney Drive heading towards Princess Margaret Drive when he lost control of the vehicle. The vehicle flipped – flew over the drain and charged into
this lamppost, snapping it like a toothpick. It landed with its four wheels in the air. As you can see - the entire front portion of the car was crushed. The bloodied interior showed how traumatic it had been
A terrible and deadly accident and Nicole Eusey was walking her dog on Coney Drive the moment it occurred. She was one of the only people who actually saw the car when it flipped.
Nicole Eusey, Witness
“I was walking my dog at the time but my back was turned to the direction the car was coming in and I just heard the brakes and when I turned around I saw the car flip in the air, knock down the lamppost and flip over and I was shocked but then I ran over and I opened the back door and I just saw the guy in there and the ambulance was right there already so they took over from there.”
Keith Swift,
How many guys were in the vehicle?
Nicole Eusey,
“I only saw one so I don’t know.”
Keith Swift,
Was he alive?
Nicole Eusey,
“His foot was dangling. That is all I saw and I moved so that the BERT people could take over. I just asked said, ‘young man,’ and his foot was just moving. I was shocked. I stood there for about ten seconds and then I ran over to open the door.”
Keron Tillett also lives in the area. He didn’t see the crash but heard the bang and went over to help.
Keron Tillett, Witness
“I was home and I heard the banging and when I got out here I saw
the car upsided down over that side and I ran over there and then the ambulance arrived and a few of the guys I know from the mechanic shop at the head on the Northern Highway, he came and me and him pried open the door. So when I opened the door I asked the young bwoy if he is okay and I didn’t get any response from him. Then the back door was already opened and the next young man’s foot was already out and he was moving at the time.”
Keith Swift,
You said you talked to them, what did you tell them?
Keron Tillett,
“I asked the young man that was driving, I asked him if he was okay because I personally knew him and I didn’t get any response from him at the time.”
Keith Swift,
So there were three people in the car, you said none of them responded.
Keron Tillett,
"To me when I asked but I heard the young lady that was in the car, she was crying at the time. So I knew that she was alive but the two guys, I didn’t know what was their condition at the time.”
Both witnesses say that from what they heard and saw the driver was speeding. They say its say it’s a problem they’ve complained about numerous times. The problem is that of motorists driving on Coney Drive like it is the Coney free way.
Nicole Eusey,
“I know they speed on this street sometimes on Coney Drive.”
Keith Swift,
What you heard was this vehicle speeding?
Nicole Eusey,
“Well I just heard the brakes and when I heard it spinned around and I guess they were.”
Keron Tillett,
“I know what it is to drive on Coney Drive at that speed because I am a driver like them too but not at that speed.”
Keith Swift,
So you believe they were speeding?
Keron Tillett,
“Yes because I heard the banging from my house and so I rushed out here and I saw the car.”
Nicole Eusey,
“That is a dangerous curve because I myself has to slow down at that curve so yes, I think it would have happened at some time.”
Friday night personnel from the Police’s Traffic Department were on the scene - searching for evidence in the car – and taking measurements on Coney Drive to determine if speed was a factor. The investigators left off with 4 bags of evidence – but the wreck remained – and so did the dozens of onlookers.
Josh Deng was in the backseat along with his female friend – 16 year old Gabriela Rivero. She received a cut wound to the right side of her chest and right hand and is hospitalized at the KHMH. The driver Zhi Heng Deng received head and body injuries and is at the Universal Hospital. Police say Zhi Heng Deng will be charged for his cousin’s death.
