Earlier we told you about the tragic death of a Ministry of Infrastructure, Development, and Housing employee while driving a tractor on assignment for his job. Today another works employee lost his life - also in the line of duty - but this victim worked with the San Ignacio Town Council.
Herman Valdez was on the on the job - when he was run over.
And, tonight San Ignacio has lost a loving father, a hard worker, and a real party stalwart. We heard more about him from the Mayor and from his family.
It was just another Monday on the job for Town Council employee Herman Valdez as he loaded his equipment in his cart and headed off to work. He couldn't know then that he would come directly into he path of a car barreling downhill after it brakes failed.
San Ignacio Mayor Earl Trapp explained how it happened:
Earl Trapp, Mayor, San Ignacio
"I was in a meeting and I received a call that Mr. Valdez was, or had an accident and the accident basically a vehicle ran down from Buena Vista hill, that's the one by the police station that goes up to San Ignacio hotel. It ran out of brakes and directly impacted or crushed Mr. Valdez between the vehicle, the said vehicle and we had other vehicles that were parked on the other side of the street noh."
"The guy ran out of brakes and like I said there was our employee on his daily duties. He was with his cart and shovel and the other tools and the vehicle came right into him."
"He was really, really crushed terribly and I'm not sure if a portion of him remained under the vehicle. That's the reason why a part of him was crushed that's the reason why the guy had to reverse and so there were hopes that he could have been resuscitated but it is sad and unfortunate that it happened that way you know."
We asked the mayor how Valdez will be remembered by those at the council:
Earl Trapp, Mayor, San Ignacio
"He was a happy person, he was a very happy person always enjoying himself. I can tell you that he was very humble, diplomatic and very hard working. He was a person that would keep to himself as well, normally. He was not a person who would ---just a happy person but certainly we here at the council have lost a very good employee. I can tell you that his family has lost a very good person, a dedicated person to his family. I can say as well, I can go one step further by saying that he will be greatly remembered especially when we are in the political mood because he was really that person that would be on the frontline and always cheering for the party but he was very much into his party."
His family could never have expected that when he went to work this morning, he wouldn't come home alive:
Yalitza Valdez, Daughter of the Deceased
"He was a very hard working man that I can say, he loved his family very much, his 4 kids and his wife, his grand kids. He will be missed; he is very funny. He loved his party, every knows he represented it well. What they can do is look at that hill going down, because its not the first time someone has died in regards to an accident like that. Most of the time accidents do happen on that hill and then I would like they look in when someone is taken to the hospital - you're there and they take long to give you updates and then when you ask for updates, like you are bothering them. A lot of people don't like to go to the public hospital because of the same reason and I believe that if they would have move quicker, he might have made it, but it is what it is. I believe a lot of people go through that, I'm not the first one. And also like I said if the doctor can update you, have someone there to update you. The thing is what hurt me the most we were there from 9:30 and we didn't get an update and when we ask for an update they don't want to tell us. At least tell us something rather than being out there wondering what's happening. Until afterwards they tell us we are sorry."
Mayor Trapp says that the council is doing all it can to support the family at this time including building a tomb.
