San Ignacio, Cayo District, Wed. Sept. 1, 2021– On Wednesday, Brenda Guerra, a social worker attached to the Human Development Department’s San Ignacio branch, was killed when the vehicle in which she was traveling hurtled off the George Price Highway and plunged into the Mopan River.
Her common-law husband, Edwin Panti, was the driver of the Ford Escape who lost control of the vehicle between Miles 72 and 73 of the highway. After the vehicle had fallen into the water, Panti was able to free Guerra and himself and successfully made it to shore.
When they were on dry land, Panti tried to resuscitate Guerra, who remained unconscious, but to no avail. Guerra was pronounced dead by authorities who made it to the scene a short while later. The police continue to investigate the circumstances which led to the accident. Samples of Panti’s bodily fluids were taken so that police could determine whether he was under the influence of alcohol at the time of the incident.
A counselor has visited the Human Development Department branch at which Guerra worked to help her colleagues to cope with the tragic loss.