There are two other traffic fatalities to report - both happened on Independence Day - one in Ladyville, one in Orange Walk Town. One involved a 23 year old victim, the other a 23 year old driver. Clifford Mejia was keeping track of them over the long weekend - and here's his report:
That's before 11:00 this morning on Marage Road in Ladyville, a bus knocked down and killed a man on a bicycle. 23-Year-Old Philip Sutherland was driving the bus when it hit 38 Year Old Gabriel Mai. The bus driver told police that they were both going in the same direction when the man on bicycle suddenly swerved in front of the bus, collided into the open door of the bus and then fell underneath it. He was run over and sustained a fatal head injury.
The vehicle that hit him was a school bus without license plates. It has now been impounded.
ACP Hilberto Romero, HNCIB
"On Sunday the 21st day of September 2025 police responded to a traffic accident at Marage road in Ladyville upon the arrival they saw the lifeless body of a male person and beside him was a bicycle, and thereafter police saw a bus parked in the area. Investigation revealed that Phillip Sutherland was driving the bus when he struck a male person who was riding the bicycle, identified as Gabriel Mai, Gabriel Mai was taken for medical treatment where he was pronounced dead on arrival. Investigation is that Mai was riding his bicycle when he was struck by the bus, an investigation was carried out and Phillip Sutherland has been arrested and charged for driving a motor vehicle without due care and attention, manslaughter by negligence and causing death by careless conduct."
JO-
"Have police taken a sample from?"
ACP Hilberto Romero, HNCIB
"Yes a urine sample was taken from him for analysis."
"The investigation is showing that yes at some point this person was on his bicycle and he was struck by the bus and that is the information we have at this time."
Reporter
"Was the deceased seen anywhere in the village drinking prior to the incident?"
ACP Hilberto Romero, HNCIB
"Prior to that he was inside a yard with other persons hanging out."
Reporter-
"Was he drinking?"
ACP Hilberto Romero, HNCIB
"The information we have is yes they were consuming alcoholic beverages at the yard."
It is the second traffic fatality for the day. The first occurred this morning at 4:30 a.m. In Orange walk town where a 23 years old j'ouvert reveler, Axel Tillet fell off the side of a truck he was holding on to and into the path of an oncoming vehicle. He was killed on the spot.
ACP Hilberto Romero, HNCIB
"Upon the arrival they saw the lifeless body of a male person identified as Axel Tillett and information is that Tillett was on a trailer that had on music when he fell and the truck ran over him, the truck was being driven by Elias Cowo and an investigation is being carried out into this report."
Jo-
"Can charges be levied against anybody?"
ACP Hilberto Romero, HNCIB
"The file will be compiled and forwarded to the DPP then a determination will be made whether he will be charged."
As for Gabriel Mai, neighbors say he was probably on his way to visit his children when he was knocked down and killed in Ladyville, but police investigations are suggesting that he may have been intoxicated while riding his bicycle.
