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A 62 year old Seine Bight resident died in an accident on the Stann Creek Valley road on Saturday morning. Before 8:00, Japhet Marin also known as "Mabutu" was heading to Belmopan when he lost control of the vehicle and it flipped - killing him. Courtney Weatherburne has the story.

Courtney Weatherbourne reporting This morning the Marin family was going through their loved one, Japhet Marin's clothes, picking out the ones they could share among themselves and putting away the others to remember him by. Marin was killed in an accident early Saturday morning between miles 21 and 22 on the Stann Creek Valley Road. He and his passenger 68 year old Ivan Martinez were heading to Belmopan when Marin lost control of the vehicle. It flipped and Marin was pinned under the vehicle. Amateur video shows the aftermath of the accident as residents rushed to their aid. As seen here, some of the residents pulled out Ivan Martinez. He was injured to the head and left hand. He survived. Marin didn't. Today Marin's nephew, Lennox Palacio told us that he had spoken to Marin on Friday night before his trip. He told us the initial plan was for him to go along with them.

Lennox Palacio - Nephew
"The night before he left we were hanging out right here like every other day. It was Friday night and he told me he was going to Belmopan. He said he went for the vehicle to get some stuff loaded up and I was here selling orange and he went ahead to deal with that. He came back and hanged out for a little while and said he will come back in the morning after he finished do the business. I was going with him but he had another partner and the partner that he went with, he owns the vehicle, so I decided not to go because I wanted to be the one that drives."

So Palacio didn't go with them after all. It's until later Saturday morning around 9:00 that his mom told him the terrible news. It hit him hard.

Courtney Weatherbourne
"You said you were very close to him, he was like a dad to you."

Lennox Palacio- Nephew
"Yes he was. It's a very sad thing; I feel...I don't know how to explain. It is rough for me, you know; because my dad has passed away and then he was the one I looked up to and hang around and try, you know, stay out of trouble. He kept me out of trouble. He was a very good role model and a leader for me, you know. The man took care of me like a son. So I really feel it."

Now his family has to find the strength to keep his 20 year old store and bar going in his memory.

Marin's family believes the front wheel blew out and that is what caused the accident. Marin leaves behind 3 kids.