Last night we told you how a San Ignacio town council employee Herman Valdez ended up crushed to death when a vehicle whose brakes failed barreled down a steep hill straight into him and his work cart.
Yesterday his daughter lamented that his death was far from the first accident to happen on or near that hill. And San Ignacio Mayor Earl Trapp agreed, telling our cameras yesterday that he was making immediate moves for the future safety of drivers and pedestrians who live in the town and have to navigate on and around the hill.
Earl Trapp, Mayor, San Ignacio
"I can recall at least 6 or 7 incidents whereby vehicles have run from on top of the hill and where it ran out of brakes, so at this time I know it's important to be proactive to avoid, but because of the importance of the businesses; the hotels from that area we leave it as a two-way street, but now because it's happening over and over and at this time it has taken away a valuable life. I mean everybody is valuable, we will have to think different now and we will have to make it a one-way street. We have already begun to work on the signs. Since it happened this morning, I ask my traffic manager to work on the signs - we will be working on gazetting it and ofcourse we will just have to report to the people. We will get some criticism on it, but I believe it's very much important for us to make that decision now before it takes away several lives."
"I can tell you it could have been worst tragic if there were a crowd of people standing in that area. It would have taken away so many lives. So before something tragic happens in the future, its best we change it and make it a one-way route. That should make a big difference here in the municipality."
We note that this is not the steepest hill in San Ignacio Town.
