A collision occurred between miles six and seven on the Northern Highway this morning just after 10:00. Fortunately, no one was seriously hurt, but the perils of this dangerous stretch of road were set out in vivid detail. Jacqueline Godwin reports.
Jacqueline Godwin Reporting,
This was the scene between miles six and seven on the Northern Highway this morning where a car and a pickup truck collided and ran off the right hand side of the road. It may look like they were travelling in the same direction, but according to Roger Bryant who was travelling behind the blue pickup truck, the car was coming in the opposite direction:
Jacqueline Godwin,
Did you see the car actually lose control and just go across the highway?
Roger Bryant, Eyewitness
“Well I was coming across the curve the same time and all I see was when the vehicle they smacked on each other so, so I didn’t see really how the car came around the curve and lose control. It happened so fast that I just quickly dashed off the road the same time too. I think it was the car that was coming southbound lose control and slammed into the pickup. So what I did, I just quickly pulled over on the right side of the road and just run to the pickup and check on who was in there.”
When 7News arrived at the crash site two ambulances had already taken the three injured persons to the KHMH. Preliminary investigation suggests that something caused the car to end up on the wrong side of the road.
Sgt. Solomon Marin, Ladyville Police
“What we observed was that the car was heading towards Belize City and the pickup heading towards Ladyville area.”
The driver of the car has been identified as Erwin Staines who declined to be interviewed so we are not sure if he did lose control. The two women identified as Carmen and Shabebe Hegar who were in the blue pickup truck also sustained injuries.
Sgt. Solomon Marin,
“The driver of the car, one Erwin Staine, received a wound over his right eye, right cheek, and he complained of pain on the right elbow.”
Jacqueline Godwin,
And the two women who were travelling in the blue pickup were they injured?
Sgt. Solomon Marin,
“Yes they were also injured.”
Roger Bryant described as a good Samaritan ran to the aid of both women. It appeared as if Shabebe Hegar was the most seriously injured.
Roger Bryant,
“Over the left eye I see the big gash that opened up so what I did is just pried open the door and quickly removed the seat belt and just tell him to relax. So I looked behind the seat and I see a green towel was back there and so I grabbed the towel and put pressure on the eye and told him to take it easy, we already called the ambulance, and my other friend that knows me, he was on the other side tending to the guy in the other car and within twelve, fifteen minutes, the ambulance was there and the police was on the scene and we just calmed the lady.”
Carmen Hegar who could not be removed because the driver’s was jammed appeared to have suffered a leg injury.
Roger Bryant,
“Maybe her right leg in the bottom part of the knee was probably fractured or something like that because we got her out from through the passenger side of the truck.”
It was fortunate that no one was in the passenger seat because the crash would likely have resulted in a fatality. Still, both vehicles were extensively damaged, with parts scattered over a wide area.
Jacqueline Godwin,
Looking at the damages sustained to both vehicles, do you suspect speeding might have been involved?
Sgt. Solomon Marin,
“Well I can’t ascertain that at this time but it appears, it appears.”
Jacqueline Godwin,
This must have been quite an experience and probably the first for you.
Roger Bryant,
“Yes because I am down here on vacation and I am going back to New York on Tuesday. So lucky thing I was there.”
The police did manage to secure whatever valuables were left behind from both vehicles. Reporting for 7News, Jacqueline Godwin.
None of the injuries are considered life threatening.
