Last week we told you about Candida Martinez, a mother of three who lost her life in a fatal traffic accident last week.
Reports to 7News from police have been that Candy had been speeding and that at about 1:30, once she'd gotten between miles 79 and 80 on the Philip Goldson Highway, she tried to overtake a truck that was traveling in the same direction. She allegedly clipped the vehicle and spun out of control.
But her family and the man who rode as her passenger that day are telling a different story. They are saying that "Candy" wasn't overtaking, and that, in fact, she swerved to avoid a collision.
Yesterday, Byron Alarcon and Candy's daughter Vanesa told CTV3 that they are only speaking out to clear her name.
Byron Alarcon, Passenger
"It was on the road when we were almost at the exit to San Joaquin, when we were going there was a trailer, and behind it there was a red pickup."
Reporter:
"Behind the trailer?"
Byron Alarcon, Passenger
"Behind the trailer. The red pickup wanted to overtake the trailer, when we were going and when, she saw the truck was coming, overtaking the trailer, she hit the brakes, and then she lost control of the car. The other driver hit the rim of the trailer's tire directly. She managed to dodge the blow but by then it was impossible. It was already fatal, lethal all at once, no one could have done anything. The car swerved and went to where it was, where the accident happened."
Vanesa Alarcon, Daughter of the deceased
"We understand that my mom was coming, my mom was going, sorry, my mom was going from San Joaquin to take food to my brother at school BAC en Calcutta and she was going to stop by to leave some food for her boss in Ranchito. She wasn't going to Corozal from there she was going to return home that's what we understand and what gotten from the witness that was with her."
Reporter:
"Does it worry you that the authorities are saying something else?"
Vanesa Alarcon, Daughter of the deceased
"Yes it really worries me because like I told me my mom is already resting in peace and I just wanted everything to be clear for the authorities to do their job and for them to say what really happened because I wouldn't want my mother's reputation to be tainted, that she was the one that was drinking, that she's the one that was at fault for what happened. I want everything to be clarified and there are people that want to testify and I'd like it if the police do their job and just say what really happened."
Police accounts point to driver error - and they have not indicated that they plan to charge anyone.
