COROZAL DISTRICT, Tues. Feb. 10, 2015–A young woman died and seven others were injured in a terrible road traffic accident that occurred shortly before 6:40 p.m. today between Miles 85 and 86 on the Philip Goldson Highway in Corozal.
The victim, Iris Mabel Chicas, 23, of San Roman, Corozal District, was reportedly driving a grey 2006 Ford Fusion car that crashed into a cream-colored Toyota Tundra pickup in the vicinity of a slaughterhouse near the entrance to Corozal Town.
According to Corozal police, Chicas – who was driving from Corozal Town towards the Belize/Mexico border – was accompanied by Ahmad Shah Amini, 28, of Miles 41/42 on the George Price Highway, who was in the front passenger seat.
Initial investigations revealed that Chicas – who is believed to have been heading to the Corozal Free Zone – was attempting to overtake a Toyota van, driven at the time by Emilio Soler, but in the process of overtaking the van, the car collided head-on with the pickup, which subsequently spun and hit the left front side of the van.
While Soler, the driver of the van being overtaken, escaped unscathed, Chicas, unfortunately, died on the spot.
The Tundra pickup was being driven by Chawki Karam Eddin, 65, a businessman of 8th North Street, Corozal Town and he was accompanied by fellow businessman Muhamade Ahmad Hijize, 41, of White Cocal area, Corozal Town, who was in the front passenger seat.
Eddin suffered a cut wound on top of his head and complained of pain in the chest, hip and head, while Hijize suffered a broken left ankle, an abrasion on his right foot, and also complained of pain in the chest.
Four passengers who were seated in the pan of Eddin’s pickup at the time also suffered varying degrees of injuries.
They are Jorge Patt, 36, a sales clerk of Paraiso, Corozal District, who suffered a cut wound to the left side of his forehead and complained of pain all over his body; Eucebio Campos, 29, a container discharger of San Narciso, Corozal District, who complained of pain in his chest; Carlos Elvir, 35, a mason of San Antonio, Corozal District, who suffered a fracture to his left foot and a cut wound on his forehead; and Eleaser Gutierrez, 30, also a mason, of Progresso, Corozal District, who has since been transported to the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital in Belize City along with Ahmad Shah Amini (the passenger in Chicas’car) for further treatment.
Chicas’ body lies at the Corozal Community Hospital morgue pending a postmortem exam, while police investigation into the incident continues.