A family of six is lucky to be alive tonight after the vehicle they were in burst into flames this afternoon on the Northern Highway. It occurred at mile 2 at around 4 pm and shut down that section of the Northern Highway for nearly 2 hours. Here’s what happened.
Keith Swift Reporting,
This is amateur video of this afternoon’s frightening car fire on the Northern Highway. Teresita Majano and Rosita Glenn says they were returning home from shopping when it occurred.
Teresita Majano, Fire Victim
“We were coming from town, we just went to do some Christmas shopping and coming up by Esso Gas Station we just heard a little pop from the vehicle and when we looked a rush of fire just entered in on us and so all we did was
just stopped the vehicle and tried to get out the kids and oursleves and save what we could have saved but we couldn’t save everything.
They were going to leave me at Belama and they were going to go back to Punta Gorda so in a way we are kind of happy that it happened here and not on the highway.”
Rosita Glenn, Fire Victim
“We would have been left stranded if it happened in a place where there were no vehicle or people who live close by.”
Rosita Glenn says the 1980 Isuzu Trooper was loaded with presents and all of those went up in smoke.
Rosita Glenn,
“All those kids were crying because what happened is we just went and did some Christmas shopping for them and everything just got burnt up.”
Duane Moody, News 5
“So everything was lost?”
Rosita Glenn,
“Only two bicycles we saved and all the rest of toys were burnt.”
Duane Moody,
“What is the value of the stuff that was lost?”
Rosita Glenn,
“Hmmm well probably about $1,500 worth of things.”
Keith Swift,
“How will this affect your Christmas?”
Teresita Majano,
“Well we had just received the money and that is what we had.”
Rosita Glenn,
“We came up here shopping but we will try and make it.”
The family came to Belize City on Saturday and were scheduled to return to Punta Gorda today. They plan to return tomorrow but it of course will be without their presents.
