Tonight, the family of 63 year-old Jose Elmer Villanueva is worried about his condition after he tumbled out of a J&J bus coming from Benque.
It happened this morning just before 7 o'clock. The bus was moving when Villanueva, who uses a cane, slipped and fell out suffering injuries that doctors are unsure of yet. Fortunately, someone rushed him to the KHMH, but due to his pain and his condition, the doctors placed him in an induced coma.
Today, 7News caught up with his niece, who explained what they knew about it accident:
Badra Coleman - Niece of Jose Elmer Villanueva
"We know that he came to Belize the day before and he was returning to Orange Walk. Apparently, some people say that somebody wanted to step out and so he stood up and a truck was coming or something and the bus swerved and he fell out. But we don't really know because we haven't spoken to him yet. He is in intensive care here at the Karl Heusner. He was put in an induced coma so that they can observe him for the next forty-eight hours."
Reporter
"Where was he sitting on the bus?"
Badra Coleman
"As far as we understand, he was sitting on the engine."
Reporter
"Now, have the doctors said anything? Like you said, he's in an induced, but have they said anything else about his condition because we were told that he was seriously injured.
Badra Coleman
"Right now the doctors are giving us a fifty/fifty chance, so we just have to wait. It's a waiting game at the moment."
Reporter
"So what sort of injuries did he receive?"
Badra Coleman
"Apparently the doctor said he came in and he was sort of conscious, but within an hour he started to fall, so they decided to put him on respiratory machines and induce the coma so he can relax."
Reporter
"Has the owner of the bus company gotten in touch with the family yet?"
Badra Coleman
"Yes, they have been here from yesterday and they were here this morning. I actually met the son of the bus owner. They have been here from yesterday as I said. At this time I would just like to ask bus drivers to please, not because it is my uncle, but close the doors. This morning I came in a bus and the bus door was open the entire way."
According to Coleman, representatives from the bus companies have stopped in at the hospital to check in on him. She told the media that she was also grateful to the unknown Samaritan who brought him in for medical treatment.