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HighlightsPolice sergeant loses both legs in road accident

BELIZE CITY, Mon. Sept. 24, 2012

Sergeant of Police Mark August, the administrative officer in the Toledo (Police) Formation based in Punta Gorda, is tonight stable in the recovery room at the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital (KHMH) after undergoing surgery this morning following a traffic accident.

August’s legs were reported missing by his police brothers, who processed the scene, apparently lost by the impact of his crash into a lamppost near the Swasey Bridge on the Southern Highway around 4:30 p.m. on Sunday.

Police report that August was traveling on his personal motorcycle on the highway, apparently headed toward Punta Gorda, at the time of the crash, which happened when he apparently lost control of the motorcycle. He was rushed to the Southern Regional Hospital in Dangriga before being brought to Belize City today for treatment.

At this morning’s press conference, press officer Inspector Fitzroy Yearwood reported that August had “lost a lot of blood” and his family was asking for blood donations, though at that time the type needed was not available. We were informed later this evening that with the officer’s condition now stable, there was no longer an urgent need for blood.

Inspector Yearwood said that at this point in the investigation he had received no information as to what kind of impact could have caused the severe injuries to August, or whether speeding was a possible factor.

As for how the officer’s family is coping, the Inspector said that the police has its Benevolent Fund and Widows’ and Orphans’ Fund for officers and their families who are affected by injuries sustained by Police Department members on the job, up to death. He also mentioned that while he was not aware of whether the family had individual insurance, the Department was working on establishing a Group Insurance Scheme by the end of this year for all officers to get health and life insurance.

We could not ascertain, at press time, whether August was on official duties or not.

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