Most times, in road accidents, even when a life is lost, the offending driver usually gets off with a fine and maybe damages paid to the family of the deceased.
But not so for 34 year old Cayo resident Levi Figueroa. According to the Cayo Star newspaper, He knocked down Orthon Armando Hyde, 37, on October 31st. Hyde was riding a motorcycle heading towards San Ignacio when Figueroa's Toyota Corolla car, collided head-on with the motor cycle. Hyde was launched into the air while the car sped off. Hyde Survived and was taken to the community hospital in San Ignacio for treatment.
Police pursued the fleeing car and found it abandoned on the roadside in Unitedville, the next village up the Western Highway. It was registered to Levi Figueroa, a resident of Unitedville.
Nine days later, on Wednesday, 9 November, Figueroa turned himself in. He was detained, formally arrested and charged for negligent wounding, and drove motor vehicle without due care and attention, failed to stop and render aid and fail to report an accident. He was taken before visiting Chief Magistrate Ann Marie Smith, on Thursday, 10 November, where all four charges were read to him. After establishing that he fully understood the charges, the Chief Magistrate requested a plea. He pleaded guilty to all four charges. Then the judicial bombshell came down: on the charge of negligent wounding, Chief Magistrate Smith imposed a sentence of two years imprisonment. He was merely reprimanded on the other three lesser charges.
According to the Star newspaper, a few hours later he was handcuffed and placed inside the police vehicle headed to the Hattieville central prison.
