The list of traumatic deaths for this last weekend before Christmas totalled four; two of the murders we already told you about, and two from a terrible collision on the Burrell Boom Road, at the deadly curve that drivers know all two well. A man and a minor were killed instantly, while the other two passengers miraculously survived. Courtney Menzies spoke to an eyewitness, and has this report.
Two people lost their lives in a horrific accident around 8 Saturday night, at Dead Man's Curve on the Burrell Boom Road.
A Ford Ranger truck, with four passengers, was travelling from Orange Walk to Spanish Lookout when it collided head first into a crane coming in the opposite direction. The momentum pushed both vehicles off the road, and compressed the truck.
The driver, 49-year-old Daniel Barkman, died on impact, and a child, 13-year-old Luke Thiessan, was crushed in the back seat.
An eyewitness to the accident, who quickly rushed to the aid of two survivors, told us what he saw.
Aaron Wilson, Eyewitness
"What I observed was three heads up, and I was looking to see if anyone else was in the vehicle, so when I looked behind the driver's side, there was a little boy, maybe he slipped off the chair and then the next seat from the driver crushed him. So I knew that there was not much to do there but I still went ahead and I touched him on his neck and his hand to see if any sign of life and there was nothing so then I run over to the passenger side where I saw a man sitting down with blood all over his face, his eyes swell up, a little boy to the back like he was unconscious."
"I managed to back the little boy from out from the back seat of the Ford Ranger, and then I took him on the street and I sit him on the ground. And then I went back and got the man who was also unconscious but he was still walking. So I assisted him out of the ditch and I put him on the street while I waited for the police and the ambulance."
Wilson said the driver had too many injuries to count, and he instantly knew there was nothing he could do for him.
Aaron Wilson, Eyewitness
"When I saw the driver I know I would waste my time to try and assist but like I said I checked him as well but he was all tear up, there was no more windshield so his head was actually set on top of the hood of the vehicle."
Wilson went back to the scene the next day, and was able to give his condolences to Barkman's family.
Aaron Wilson, Eyewitness
"When I went out there, I met the family, they were glad to hear from me, they were happy that someone helped their husband. I met the wife of Mr Danny, who was the driver, and she told me that her husband died doing what he loved because he was delivering rice for some families in Carmelita who are suffering under the pandemic and that's his life, he's a Christian and he do that, he help people around without trying to get recognition."
The other passengers received varying degrees of injury, and the police have us an update:
Hilberto Romero, Deputy Head, NCIB
"Inside the Ford vehicle police saw the lifeless body of Daniel Barkman, 49 years, and Luke thiessan, 13 years. Two more persons Ronald Thiessan and Nathan Miller were taken to the KHMH where they are in stable condition at this time."
"A sketch was drawn from the area and an investigation is being conducted and the driver of the crane has been served with a notice of intended prosecution and a blood sample taken. An investigation will be conducted and a file forwarded to the DPP to determine charges."
Senior Superintendent Romero confirmed that speeding was a factor in this accident, but there is speculation that the driver wanted to get home before the 10pm curfew.
We'll let you know if and when police bring charges.
