When we left you last night, it was with the news that there had been a terrible, fatal accident on the Western Highway near Belmopan. Well tonight we have more details. There is that one fatality to report but in a major collision involving 7 persons, there could have been more. Daniel Ortiz spoke to one of the drivers and a first responder today to try and find out what happened.
Daniel Ortiz reporting
This mashed up Ford Explorer was one of the vehicles in the accident on the Western Highway, just outside of Belmopan, which resulted in a fatality.
ASP Sinquest Martinez - OC, Belmopan Police
"Just before 5pm police responded to a traffic accident between miles 46 and 47 on the George Price Highway where they saw 2 vehicles; one white D-max, property of the Government of Belize and a green Ford Explorer. The D-max was travelling from the direction of Belize City to Belmopan driver by Ernesto banner while the other vehicle was travelling in the direction to Belize City driver by Bert Ramos when they had a collision and unfortunately one person lost his life."
Belize City Councillor Phillip Willoughby was one of the first people on the scene after the accident. What he found shocked him.
Phillip Willoughby - First Responder
"I have done numerous trainings where emergency management is concern through NEMO and in all my experience you know these exercises and scenarios are mock exercises/test exercises and never have I seen physically the extent physically real time the gentleman in the state he was completely broken up. I mean, you know people get broken limbs, broken what not, but he was just like a paper just flapping."
Willoughby used those emergency management skills that he learned to try to save the lives of the 7 victims in the accident. The driver and passengers in the Government vehicle were the most in need of help.
Phillip Willoughby - First Responder
"The rear glass was busted out. The rear passenger glass was broken out also and what we tried to do was: 1). Lift up the lady who we took out firstly because she was on the passenger's side, we evacuated her from the vehicle and we placed her on the highway and we noted
that there was a gentleman who was on the isle on the background and he was bleeding out profusely. We then took him out the vehicle likewise but I noted that he was badly broken up and bleeding and burst up terribly. There was a doctor who was coming from Belize City going westerly and she came out and she evaluated the accident victims and she accompanied them with two nurses to the Belmopan hospital."
Government employee Efrain Cowo was the victim inside government vehicle, who suffered the most severe injuries. He passed away last night.
So what caused the accident? We asked Bert Ramos, the driver of the Explorer, to explain what happened
Bert Ramos - Accident Victim
"To tell you the truth when I watch at it I figure that the guy who was in front of me because of the pot holes he probably swerve causing the next driver who was coming from the opposite direction to lose control and apply brakes. On the road when you apply brakes the vehicle will just slide in its own direction and it went straight up into me. I figure that the vehicle that was in front of me caused the accident because I think that driven went a little bit on the other lane. I think that the driver diverted in time but the other vehicle had already started to apply brake and slide directly into me."
Daniel Ortiz
"Was there anything you could have done to avoid the accident?"
Bert Ramos - Accident Victim
"If there was something I could have done I would try my best to avoid but like I said that the quickness that it happened was like by the time I saw this white vehicle is because it was already coming into me. The only thing that I can say is that if I never had my brakes lock down I think it would have been a more serious accident than that."
But it was bad enough.
Phillip Willoughby - First Responder
"Even up to now that in seeing it and going into last night and now hearing they have passed, I still can't put words together to possibly describe the scene. You know when you encountered some like that - it's like a cut out of a movie somewhat."
Bert Ramos - Accident Victim
"The only thing I would want is to send my condolences to the family and the person that die and I still want to send my respect to all the people that got hurt. I got hurt too, but I know that other people who were in the accident got more hurt that I."
Belmopan Police have not had a chance to interview the persons involved in the accident. So, at this point, cannot make any decisions as to how to proceed with the criminal investigation, at this time. The Ministry of Rural Development says that Efrain Cowo was a long time employee, and they also sent out a press release to note his passing.
Another passenger who was in the government vehicle, and who suffered severe injuries was 29 year-old Kendra Arnold, a resident of Ontario Village. She had to undergo emergency surgery at the KHMH after being transferred from the Western Regional Hospital. She is in a stable condition at the KHMH. All the other victims of the accident continue to receive treatment and except for Bert Ramos, who discharged himself from the KHMH.
