BDF Soldier Dies in Collision on Southern Highway

A Belize Defence Force soldier lost his life in a traffic crash on Monday night on the Thomas Vincent Ramos Highway. Twenty-six-year-old Genario Che was on his motorcycle heading home when he collided with a truck. He died on the scene. News Five’s Britney Gordon headed down south to find out more.

 

Britney Gordon, Reporting

The family of twenty-six-year-old Genario Che is tonight grieving after the young B.D.F. soldier lost his life on Monday night on the Thomas Vincent Ramos Highway in Toledo. His girlfriend, Benedicta Cal, told News Five that she was at home waiting to hear back from him at the time of the incident.

 

Benedicta Cal, Girlfriend of Deceased

“I neva expect him to come home yesterday evening because he told me that he reach today later on. He just video call me round two thirty tell me he de da town. He tell me he gwen buy this white T-shirt so I tell he good. So afta that I di try call he again, lone voicemail.”

 

Che was enjoying some time off with a colleague at a bar in Punta Gorda earlier that afternoon. The two parted ways and Che headed home in Silver Creek Village. Tragically, Che would never arrive to his destination as he collided with a pick up truck. He died on the scene. Maria Cucul, Che’s mother, says she could have never anticipated what would happen to her son after he left their home earlier that day.

 

Maria Cucul, Mother of Deceased

“I didn’t know. I only know that he gone early morning to work. Not knowing he lost his life.”

 

Che was previously stationed in Belize City but was recently relocated closer to home. He bought the motorcycle three days before his death to travel back and forth to work. Major Roberta Usher, the B.D.F.’s Chief of Staff, spoke to News Five.

 

Major Roberta Usher, Chief of Staff, B.D.F.

“The information received is that on the road, towards Jacinto Ville in PG the soldier live in Silver Creek. He was not on duty at the time, he was on time off for yesterday. He had the time off from his supervisors. He was scheduled to return to return to work at fourteen hundred, two p.m. but he never did. So all of that is being investigated as to why he did not  return at two.”

 

Che was known to the force as a reserved but committed soldier, and those closest to him remember him for his kindness and friendly spirit.

 

Major Roberta Usher

“He has been in the force for seven years. He’s a member of the Alpha company in the first infantry battalion. All his colleagues and friends that we’ve asked, he’s a very quiet individual, very productive, committed to his work. Personally, we all go through issues, whether he was or was not. His friends say sometimes he was down sometimes he wasn’t but at work, his friends say he was committed, productive soldier, always doing his job.”

 

Benedicta Cal

“He’s a friendly, talkative, respectful young man.”

 

Che tragic incident has brought the family together to celebrate his life.

 

Maria Cucul

“He’s a really friendly boy. He’s a loving son to me, He is the one that helps me in my life and my family,”

 

Britney Gordon

“Does he have any siblings?”

 

Maria Cucul

“Yes, he has two brothers and four sisters. His father died long time ago”

 

Britney Gordon

“And was he the eldest? Because I know he was junior.”

 

Maria Cucul

“Yes he is my first son.”

Britney Gordon for News Five.