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NBA basketball star Kenyon Martin and hip-hop artist Trina arrived in Belize from Miami today for a peace rally and basketball tournament tomorrow. But the news tonight is that on their way from the airport, in a motorcade led by a police mobile, the Ford Excursion the couple was traveling in - was involved in a violent collision on the Northern Highway. They weren’t hurt but two young boys were. Keith Swift and camera man Alex Ellis had just interviewed the couple at the airport and were heading back to the city and witnessed the accident. Here’s their story.

Keith Swift Reporting,
We were there when basketball superstar Kenyon Martin and hip-hop’s rising queen Trina arrived at the airport. Kenyon told us the trip was both for work and pleasure.

Kenyon Martin, NBA Player
“It is wonderful. It is my first time here so I am looking to have a good time. I am here for a little business but pleasure as well. I came down here to lend some support to the basketball for peace and things like hip-hop for peace and things like that – to have a good time.”

But all that changed minutes later because of this ugly collision at mile 8 on the Northern Highway. The 7NEWS team was on the scene moments after. The green minivan ploughed into the front passenger side of this white excursion. Trina and Kenyon Martin were in the backseat of that excursion. Raymond Marin saw the accident unfold and was one of the first persons on the scene.

Raymond Marin, Witness
“As we were coming down from the airport trailing behind the vehicles we see the white car that Trina and Kenyon Martin were travelling in was cutting across and the same time a green van came and they hit each other and they went straight across and one of the children nearly came out of the vehicle because of the impact. It was very very hard and horrifying and hmmm, I still left stunned right now.”

But as stunning as it was, Trina got a few minutes later visibly shaken but told me she was unhurt.

Keith Swift,
Trina can you tell us anything about what you just experienced?

Trina, Involved in Accident
“It was just…I don’t know.”

She was embraced by Kenyon Martin who was also unhurt. The driver of the Excursion, J.A. Jex says he received a minor injury.

But the same couldn’t be said for George Abraham. He was driving the minivan with his 12 and 9 year old sons inside. The front side of his vehicle was crushed. His children 9 year old Johnny and 12 year Delane were hurt, and in the moments after the accident he was both angered and in anguish.

George Abraham, Involved in Accident
“I was on my right hand side and this vehicle overtake on this side. That guy was in the wrong in that vehicle. I was on my correct hand. Ahh my shoulder.”

Keith Swift,
Who were you with in the van?

George Abraham,
“My two little babies.”

Trina and Kenyon Martin left in another vehicle and so did their luggage. The Abrahams meanwhile were assisted by paramedics. 12 year old Delane was seriously hurt and had to be carried on a stretcher. Diane Finnegan is one of the organizers of the visit.

Diane Finnegan, Youth for the Future
“I really have to apologize to them for all this and I dropped them off at their hotel just a few minutes ago and they are shaken up. They are okay, safe, didn’t get any kind of hurt or anything but the emotional part of it is what we are all going through.”

Keith Swift,
Why was there a police escort? Why was there this motorcade?

Diane Finnegan,
“Bringing in such a huge figure within the NBA, we thought that it would just add some level of our thoughts and what it meant having them coming into our country and we wanted to show them with humbleness what it is that it means to us as Belizeans and also – everybody’s been expecting them.”

But certainly no one expected this. Reporting for 7NEWS, Keith Swift.

Police are investigating the accident. We should note that numerous witnesses saw and we noted that oncoming traffic had to swerve off the road because the motorcade – led by a police mobile with flashing lights- was overtaking traffic on the fairly narrow stretch of the Northern Highway. We couldn’t verify if the escort was officially sanctioned. Again no one was seriously hurt and the show will go on. We’ll give you a preview of that show and tell you why it is still big news that the 6’ 9” basketball superstar is in town - later on in our newscast.