Photo: Hilberto Romero, Senior Superintendent of Police

by Charles Gladden

BELMOPAN, Mon. Nov. 21, 2022

Two men lost their lives over the weekend in separate road traffic accidents – one in Santa Cruz in the Stann Creek District, and the other in the vicinity of the San Estevan roundabout in the Orange Walk District.

When police officers arrived near the San Estevan roundabout at about 5:51 am on Saturday, November 19, they saw Paul Vasquez, 23, lying on the ground with severe body injuries. Vasquez was taken to the Northern Regional Hospital, where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

Senior Superintendent of Police, Hilberto Romero, explained to local reporters that Vasquez was riding on his motorcycle, which was found at the scene, when he lost control of the motorbike and fell onto the road, which caused his fatal injuries.

The second accident occurred in Santa Cruz, also on November 19, when Gideon Shim, 26, who was sitting in the pan of a pickup truck, lost his balance and fell onto the road. He was taken to the hospital, where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

A NIP (Notice of Intended Prosecution) has been served on the driver of the pickup truck, and an investigation continues.

Romero told local reporters that it is illegal for pickup owners to carry passengers in the cargo bed of trucks, and they are liable for the passengers at the back.