Another teenager died over the weekend - this time, just outside Bella Vista Village. 16-year-old Edwin Marquez was the victim of a road traffic incident around 6:30 on Saturday night. He had just left his family and was on his way home to his girlfriend - but never made it.
A father of two also died a day after the incident. Courtney Menzies travelled south to hear from the grieving families.
Courtney Menzies:
It was here, right outside Bella Vista Village, that 16 year old Edwin Marquez lost his life on Saturday. The teenager was heading home to Independence Village when his motorcycle collided with a vehicle coming in the opposite direction. Now his family is left to mourn a brother and son gone far too soon.
Angie Marquez, Sister of Deceased
"I was across by my neighbor's house and when I was coming, he was actually going home, because he already lives with his girlfriend, he just came to visit my father, and he asked my father if he was going to go to farm tomorrow and my father told him no, and he asked if there was anything for him to do tomorrow for the farm and he said no. So he said, "bye daddy" and he went and when I was coming across the neighbour told me he had an accident but they already know that he was dead. I told my aunty if we could please go there but the police didn't allow us to see him so we just came home back."
While Angie Marquez recalled the last time she saw her brother, she words failed her when she began speaking about the helpful and loving person he was.
Angie Marquez, Sister of Deceased
"He was a nice boy, he was the right hand of our house. He was…he was a nice boy. He came out of school so he start to work with Mr Martinez at the bus that travel from Bella Vista to Dangriga. Afterwards he find a work at Mango Creek, at Independence, with Mr Omar and right there he started to work so he was travelling from here to Mango Creek."
As she fondly remembered the various nicknames he would call her, her silence proved how palpable her family's grief is.
Courtney Menzies:
"How is your family coping?"
Angie Marquez, Sister of Deceased
"I don't have so much words to say."
Sadly, Marquez was not the only fatality in this incident. The following day, the driver of the vehicle, 47-year-old Juan Veliz succumbed to his injuries while he was being treated at the KHMH. His wife did not have much to say - because even though she was inside the vehicle, she could not remember how the collision happened.
Elubina Gomez, Wife of Deceased
"She said she didn't remember, once she see it, they were already at the hospital. She didn't remember anything how things happened. He used to be a good husband because he was a good worker and he got a lot of friend, he was a good person. Responsible with his kids and everything. All of the family doesn't feel good. All of them feel it."
The only person who was able to give the details of the accident was ACP Joseph Myvett.
ACP Joseph Myvette, Head NCIB
"The investigation has shown that Veliz, who was returning from a social event in the Stann Creek valle area, veered into the lane of the oncoming motorcyclist, which caused the collision. Veliz along with his family was transported for medical attention, he was later transferred to the KHMH where he died while undergoing treatment."
There is speculation in the village that alcohol may have been a factor in this incident, but according to Veliz's wife, he was not intoxicated.
