30-year-old Ministry of Infrastructure, Development and Housing employee Derrick Banner was killed on Saturday morning after the John Deer Tractor he'd been driving from San Ignacio to Cristo Rey Village overturned near Monkey Falls Hills.
The accident left Banner wounded and bleeding on the side of the road, and having to shout instructions to on scene first responders in an attempt to save his own life.
One of those first on the scene was Sunup on 7 morning show host Kevin Mendez, who was staying with friends nearby. This morning he told us just how struck he was that Banner ended up dying:
Kevin Mendez, Witnessed the scene
"We heard a loud noise at around 6:00 in the morning and were wondering what happened. So, while we were trying to figure it out we went by the roadside and we saw that vehicles were already parked, so there was definitely that said something big must have happened here. Somebody that was one of the first responder came by to us asking us for help and if he asked if we have any flat surface to put the individual that got caught in the accident, so we rendered assistance by providing a wooden surface for that to happen. While we went to check out the area then we saw that the tractor had turned over and there was an individual lying on the ground, he was bleeding from his mouth, but he was till conscious and kind of telling people how to move him and that kind of thing. What was good though was that the police officers were already there and they seemed that they knew what they were doing. While they were trying to put the individual on the wooden surface that the same time the ambulance came in and then they took over from there. For me what was tragic was seeing the guy conscious at the spot and later hearing that he passed away. We honestly thought that he was going to make it, but unfortunately that was not the situation."
And this morning we got more details from ASP Fitzroy Yearwood. He told us that police and motor vehicle inspectors are still investigating whether a mechanical failure with the tractor cost Banner his life.
ASP Fitzroy Yearwood, Communications Officer
"On the second of July around 6:15 AM police officers visited the Cristo Rey road near the Monkey Falls Hills, Cayo district. They saw a man on the edge of the highway later identified as Derek banner 30 years. Not too far from where they found Banner they saw a tractor, a John Deer tractor that was overturned. Initial investigation revealed that Banner was driving from San Ignacio town to Cristo Rey Village when he lost control of that tractor and the tractor overturned causing him some serious body injuries. He succumbed around 7:40 whilst receiving treatment at the San Ignacio hospital. Of course we are still investigating this accident because it may have been caused by some mechanical error. I know that the motor vehicle inspectors are scheduled to inspect that vehicle today and we could give a more definite reason. What may have caused the tractor to overturn, costing him his life."
A statement from the Ministry of Infrastructure, Development, and Housing on Saturday said this of Derek Banner:
"It is with incredible sadness that we announce the death of tractor operator Derrick Banner. He was on his way to San Antonio in the Cayo District this morning for a community cleanup when he apparently lost control of the tractor on a steep hill. He sustained severe injuries when the tractor flipped and he was pronounced dead a short while ago. Our entire MIDH family is grieving his loss, along with his family and loved ones."
