7 News Belize

Man Critical After Boxing Day Collision
posted (December 29, 2011)
As we reported last night, there was a major collision on the Western Highway on Boxing Day.

It happened at 6:00am between miles 70 and 71 on the Western Highway when a pickup crashed into a van. Last night we spoke to one of the passengers in the van, Erlin Pook who had a broken leg.

But the most seriously injured was Luis Polanco - the driver of the van. He is in critical condition at Belize Healthcare Partners tonight and Monica Bodden visited with his family today:..

Monica Bodden reporting
34 year old Luis Polanco is being kept alive by machines at the Belize Healthcare Partners. The father of 2 was given a 50/50 chance of survival.

Alfredo Mia - Brother-In-Law
"When they rushed him here on Monday morning the doctors describe the situation as very critical and the results show that he has broken legs, broken ribs and facial damages, but up to yesterday the doctor reported that his situation now is very critical. There is a lot of compression on the brain and they had to do an emergency brain surgery for him to remove the cranial parts so that the compression can be eased down a little bit. The operation lasted seven and a half hours, from then Luis has been battling for his life. It has been tough for us as a family and every hour or two the reports that come is that he is unstable and very critical but the doctors claim that he is battling for his life."

"So here we are united as a family trying to give moral support for Luis. We know that he is fighting for his life and we are here together as a family."

20 year old Ian Vega was the driver of the vehicle that served into the lane Polanco was travelling in and collided into him. So far the Polanco family says they have not heard from Vega, nor Vega's family.

Alfredo Mia - Brother-In-Law
"This is the part that hurts the most you know, from Monday morning up to now - this is quite shameful, as human beings when things like this happen we should show some form of compassion, at least a phone call, at least some sort of communication to the family to figure out what is happening. It's a pity up to now that no one has contacted the family to find out what has been the state of Luis condition. Even after hearing the news yesterday, we thought that after there should be some form of phone call or communication to the family, but it's a pity up to now nothing and it is us that have been running around trying to figure out what we can do to save Luis' life."

The family of Polanco strongly believes that Vega was driving under the influence. So far the police have not informed the family whether or not a blood test was taken to determine Vega's alcohol level.

Alfredo Mia - Brother-In-Law
"Immediately after the report got to the family on Monday around 8 o' clock there have been a lot of family friends, a lot of witnesses; taxi drivers; neighbors who were there on the scene. They say that they have just witness this accident and they are willing to come front and testify that Luis could never in no way avoided this accident. In fact there was this couple who were going to their farm, they say that they had to go to one side of the road and they saw the vehicle coming zigzag and very high speed. They say in no way this could have been avoided. "

"No police has approach the family. We heard that police would have been here to interview the wife, but up to now there has been nothing. We don't know if there is some other agenda behind all of this."

Monica Bodden
"You don't know if this driver's alcohol level was tested?"

Alfredo Mia - Brother-In-Law
"Up to now we have no report, we have no feedback whether this has been done and to me this is a pity because if something like this happen the protocol would have been first to do some alcohol test and up to now I don't think this has gone through."

Despite the odds against him, Polanco is still fighting for his life. And his wife is doing all she can to keep him alive.

Julia Polanco - Wife
"It's very hard to manage because yesterday my little girl saw her dad and she couldn't stop crying. My little son is here trying to battle it to and it's so difficult because, like a wife, it's so hard to see your husband laying there fighting for his life and you can't do anything. You can't help him out and then he is our support, I don't work. He is the one who maintain us and now he is there and we don't know what will happen. This guy doesn't show up, he doesn't come and tell us what we will do and then I'm trying to battle it out and see how can I pay, how can I manage even with my home and my kids and now my husband laying here. So it's very difficult for me. I guess if this had not happen my husband would have been okay. He doesn't drink, he doesn't smoke and just because of a crazy guy out there he is laying there and we don't know what will happen with his life."

An official report says, Police have found 20 year old Ian Vaga to be at fault in the accident. He has been served with a notice of intended prosecution for driving motor vehicle without due care and attention; however, no arrest has been made as police say Vega is in a critical condition. So far - despite repeated requests for information - police have not stated whether or not a blood test was performed to determine if Vega was driving under the influence.

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