It was never reported in the police press release but tonight a hit and run driver remains in hiding following the death of thirty two year old Jackie Bermudez, a Honduran national who had made Dangriga Town her home for the past eighteen years. It was while 7News was at the Belize City morgue that we found out about the tragic death of the mother of a ten year old who has been described as a very versatile hardworking woman.
From what we have been able too gather is that around four forty five on Saturday morning following a long night of socializing Jackie Bermudez was heading home on her bicycle when she was struck head on by mile one and a half on George Price Drive through the Stann Creek Valley. It is reported that the body was on the scene for quite sometime before it was reportedly spotted on the roadside by some passengers onboard a six a.m. bus.
When the police arrived at the location they observed Jackie Bermudez’s was lying in some bushes barely alive on the left hand side of the road. From the scene police also recovered a gold fender believed to have come from the vehicle that struck the young mother.
Also police recovered Bermudez’s bicycle. Its front wheel was badly damaged. While a name of a possible suspect has surfaced and the vehicle has been reportedly described as a gold Isuzu pickup truck authorities have yet to confirm the report much less have made an arrest or detained anyone in connection with the hit and run. Family members believe the police have been moving too slow on the case and the driver responsible for their loved one’s death may never be found.
Today we caught up with the victim’s close relative Therese Wilson along with the victim’s sister as they waited for the post mortem result. Wilson told 7News that is equally sad is that Jackie’s young son got to see his mom badly injured and before she died in the back of a pickup truck. 7News also spoke with the Chief Pathologist Dr. Mario Estradabran following his examination of the body.
Therese Wilson,
“If anybody know or see anything to come so we can now what’s happening because right about now we don’t know nothing. Absolutely nothing. Only the policeman can say something. She was heading home from dance because she was at Rivera’s, she was by karaoke, she was all about that night, even my own house she was.”
Jacqueline Godwin,
“How would you describe Jackie?”
Therese Wilson,
“Nice person, hard working.”
Jacqueline Godwin,
“So it is a tragedy this happened to her.”
Therese Wilson,
“Police had to pick her up and when my grandson saw her, because she looked at him, and he said she was still breathing at that time. It is when she got into the truck that she took her last breath.”
Dr. Mario Estradabran, Police Pathologist
“Well the post mortem revealed she has multiple injuries in different areas of the body. It is basically on the spine and the left knee was totally broken and she died by multiple organ failure. The first impact was on the left knee, that is why the left knee is totally broken.”
Therese Wilson,
“So sad, I am appealing to whoever do this to Jackie to come forth and give us a helping hand.”
Jacqueline Godwin,
“Because the family is convinced that he or she knows that they hit someone.”
Therese Wilson,
“Yeah.”
The ten year old son is being taken care of relatives but we understand because he rushed to the scene after hearing what happened and saw the condition of his mom he has been having problems sleeping. Thirty two year old Jackie Bermudez will be laid to rest in Dangriga Town on Saturday. The family would like to say thanks to the Usher family a former employer of Jackie Bermudez in assisting them with funeral expenses. In the meantime if you have any information that can lead Dangriga Police to their hit and run driver contact the nearest police station.
