BELIZE CITY, Mon. June 21, 2021– On Saturday night, two police officers were involved in a tragic road traffic accident between Miles 76 and 77 on the Philip Goldson Highway. One of those police officers — a senior cop, died as a result of that accident, while the other officer, a police constable, has been hospitalized.
Reports are that Assistant Superintendent of Police, 45-year-old Fernando Neal, was carpooling with PC Didier Clavel, 22, when the right side of their vehicle collided into the right side of a pickup that swerved into their lane.
Police who went to the scene of the accident saw PC Clavel’s extensively damaged silver Toyota Corolla on the left side of the highway, and they also found on the scene an abandoned Ford Ranger pickup. The pickup was extensively damaged as well.
PC Clavel, who was driving at the time of the accident from Corozal Town to Orange Walk Town, tried to avoid the collision, but was unsuccessful, reports say. ASP Neal was trapped inside the vehicle as a result of the collision. He was freed with the help of personnel from the Fire Department and taken to the Corozal Community Hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries. PC Clavel was also admitted for medical treatment, and his condition was reportedly stabilized.
Two men are currently persons of interest in connection with the accident. They are believed to be the occupants of the vehicle, who fled the scene after the collision without rendering any aid.
Police said that they have questioned one person, who is still being investigated, and that they are seeking another person of interest.
In his remarks to the media, the Police Department’s communications director, ASP Fritzroy Yearwood, said that ASP Neal was a “very unique officer, very pleasant, and one who took his job and career very seriously.”
ASP Neal was stationed at Precinct 1 of the Police Department.