7 News Belize

Quadruple Road Fatality Leaves 4 Young Men Dead
posted (July 29, 2019)
And from that violent domestic dispute which ended in murder, we turn now to the weekend's other traumatic event. It was a fatal accident in the Ladyville area which left 4 Belize City men dead, and another recovering from serious injuries.

It happened between miles 6 and 7 on the Philip Goldson Highway. 4 of the 5 occupants of a white Toyota Camry died when it slammed into a lamppost and snapped the car completely into 2.

Our news team has closely been following the story, and Daniel Ortiz reports:

Daniel Ortiz reporting
When police arrived on the scene at around 6:30 yesterday evening, they found the wreckage of this white Toyota Camry car. The driver of the vehicle had reportedly crashed it into a lamppost, and the impact caused it to completely split into 2.

Nearby, in the middle of the road, and on its shoulders, the cops also found the bodies of 22-year-old Leith Bermudez, 21-year-old Gian Martinez, 22-year-old Malijah Gill, 18-year-old Deandre Lamb.

All 4 were occupants of this car, and they all died in that crash on the scene.

The only survivor of the accident was Allen Stephenson, and currently, police believe that he was the one driving at the time. They can't yet say for certain that he was indeed behind the steering wheel.

ASP Alejandro Cowo - OC, CIB Belize City
"Police responded to a fatal traffic accident between miles 6 and 7 on the Philip Goldson Highway, whereupon arrival. They observed 2 bodies in the middle of the highway, and one was beside a vehicle, and another one was in some bushes not far from the vehicle. The vehicle was a white Toyota Camry, which was actually cut in half after, I believe, it hit the lamppost, and as a result of that, the persons received severe injuries to their bodies. One more person was transported to the Hospital, Allen Stephenson, where he was admitted to the hospital, and he was discharged."

Jules Vasquez
"He was the driver?"

ASP Alejandro Cowo
"Up to now, we cannot establish who was the driver of the vehicle."

Reporter
"Sir, is there any indication that these persons were consuming alcohol, or were under the influence?"

ASP Alejandro Cowo
"At this moment, I was made to understand that the driver just turned himself in to police, so, we have to look into that situation. When police arrived at the scene, Mr. Stevenson was already being transported to the hospital. So, there is nothing for us to say who was the driver at this time."

It's one of the worst accidents in recent memory, and investigators are trying to piece together exactly what happened, based on eyewitness accounts.

ASP Alejandro Cowo
"I believe that the initial investigation that we got from witnesses is that apparently the vehicle suffered a blow-out, and the person lost control of the vehicle and ended up hitting the lamppost, which caused the vehicle to be turned into 2 pieces."

Reporter
"Speeding sir?"

ASP Alejandro Cowo
"I believe it was. It had to be due to high speed."

The investigators will also have to determine whether or not alcoholic beverages played a factor in this deadly accident.

Reporter
"We've all seen photos, and I've seen at least one bottle of Stout. Is it complicated now because there is really no way to - even if you find out who was the driver, it is the person who survived, due to the passage of time, it's hard to take a sample at this point."

ASP Alejandro Cowo
"Well, I know that a post-mortem will be done on the 4 bodies, noh. Samples will be taken from blood, and then, that will be analyzed. That will determine whether if they had alcohol in their system or not. But, when it comes to the driver, it is something that we cannot establish up to now, who was the driver of the vehicle up to now."

The authorities are imploring motorists to drive responsibly on the Philip Goldson Highway, and resist the temptation to speed, especially since that part of the highway is excellent condition after the upgrade works on it.

ASP Alejandro Cowo
"We know that speeding is a problem within that section of the highway, until you reach the bridge, because of the fact that you have a good road to travel. And I believe that people - the drivers just take advantage and speed over the limit that is prescribed to drive on that highway there. I know drivers have to be cautious because you'll remember you're driving a vehicle, which is man-made, and sometimes, it may have faults. And we need to be prepared. If you are traveling at a high speed, it's very difficult to control a vehicle."

Jules Vasquez
"Do we need more enforcement on the road? We don't have as you know. I could drive any speed on the way back, nobody will stop me, there is no highway patrol. I know it's not strictly a job for you, because Transport has that responsibility as well."

ASP Alejandro Cowo
"I know that yes, there are highway patrols, Jules, and sometimes you see them early in the mornings, in the evenings, and sometimes late in the night. But you know, we cannot be everywhere. That is the problem. I know that yes, on that day, they had patrols within Belize City limits and also in other parts of Ladyville, but, unfortunately, at that time, they didn't have any on that part of the highway."

Malijah Gill's mother told us that her son left the family home yesterday to go fishing with his boss, who is the only survivor of the accident. She describes her son as a friendly and caring person, who leaves behind one child, and another on the way.

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