Yesterday we told you about the Deputy Chief Transport Officer. He had the misfortune of getting into a fender bender right in front of Channel 7. But what we called misfortune - he calls good fortune - because he says our security footage shows that he was not in the wrong - even if his Ministry CEO, Chester Williams said he was. Here's what he told us via Zoom today:
Peter Williams, Says He Wasn't In The Wrong
"Every day, we all see on the news or we hear of an incident involving the improper use of a motorcycle. It just so happened that I was affected by this one, really. I would also want to thank 7 News for putting the video out so that it can be clearly seen to all that that was not at fault for this incident."
"When you look at the video, you can clearly see me stopping at the intersection. I gave way to two vehicles, a pickup truck and a motorcycle that was swerving, mind you, which again shows the way how motorcycles are being used in our country."
"Nonetheless, I gave way to both those vehicles and then after ensuring that the road was clear, I proceeded. Just when I was about to complete that crossing, the cycle collided into the rear end of the truck that I was in."
"One may say, however, Albert Street is the right of way. However, having the right of way, and I really want to emphasize this to the Belizean people, having the right of way does not exempt you from adhering to the rules of the road."
"It does not exempt you from adhering to the speed limits or adhering to the other relevant regulations, right? You must still adhere to all of those things, even if you have the right of way, even if that argument is being made that you have the right of way."
Reporter
"When you were going across, at any point of time did you slow down. In the video, it kind of shows that you started off fast and then slow down in the middle of the road."
Peter Williams, Says He Wasn't In The Wrong
"Absolutely not. um before um proceeding from that intersection um there when I when I looked down Albert Street there was no vehicle um you know approaching I'm not rushing across the junction or the intersection right. I drove within the speed limit um as any other careful and responsible driver would do."
Reporter
"What are your thoughts on the comments made by CEO Chester Williams?"
Peter Williams, Says He Wasn't In The Wrong
"I have no comments. Mr Williams is entitled to his to his opinions, um I have tremendous respect for Mr Williams. Being the Deputy Chief Transport Officer does that mean that I have this magical cloak um you know which absolves me from uh uh the poor driving habits of other road users right. Um I'm just I'm a person just like everyone else navigating the roads just like everyone else adhering to the rules of the road um just like everyone else."
"Really and truly I am the most careful driver that you can think about, right? Yet this happened, right? But what I want to say to the public is that rather than focusing on the negative aspects of this incident, I have chosen to embrace this experience, right?"
"I now have that firsthand experience of the dangerous and reckless driving that we continue to see being perpetuated by persons who use motorcycles, right?"
Police are still investigating and have asked to extract a copy of our security footage. We'll let you know where it goes.
