Deliveryman Killed Belmopan Traffic Accident

The tragic death of a motorcycle driver from Belmopan on Thursday afternoon has added to the growing list of fatal motorcycle accidents. The incident occurred around three PM in the Maya Mopan area of Belmopan and claimed the life of Carlos Romero, a young self-employed resident of the same municipality. Romero’s life was cut short due to a collision with a ten-wheeler truck. He passed away at the Western Regional Hospital just hours after the accident. News Five’s Marion Ali brings us the story in this report.

 

Marion Ali, Reporting

Belmopan deliveryman Carlos Romero had just left home to run an errand for a customer and was on his way back to San Martin Avenue after completing the job. But tragically, he never made it back home. On St. Peter Street, just past its intersection with St. Jude Street, his red motorcycle got clipped under a ten-wheeler truck he was trying to overtake. Romero and his bike were flung under one of the truck’s right wheels, trapping them both underneath. Elizabeth Mendez, who lives near the intersection, saw Romero drive past just moments before the accident.

 

Elizabeth Mendez, First Responder

“I see the cycle pass through my front door, to this road, St. Peter and I, I never see the truck that way down. So I suddenly I hear like the door fan back – a big noise, so I stand up on the door and when I see something red, then I say that the cycle, I just hold my head and I run over there for see what’s going on, how I could help or what?”

 

Mendez said that initially, Romero was not talking and she observed only minor injuries, but the situation changed when she managed to revive him.

 

Elizabeth Mendez

“I see the scrape on his hand.”

 

Marion Ali

“Was he talking?”

 

Elizabeth Mendez

“Yes because I asked him who we could call. You got one for number? But when I really reach him, he can’t talk, but then I do pahn ih chest, rub ih chest, and then I see that he started to talk.”

 

With the help of an off-duty police officer, Romero was pulled from under the truck and rushed to the Western Regional Hospital, where he sadly passed away later that evening. For Jorge Romero and his family, the accident is especially shocking because Carlos had just left home to run the errand only a few minutes earlier.

 

Jorge Romero, Father of Deceased

“He works from phone calls. He does errands. He finishes a run, he comes in here, parks his cycle inside here, waits for the next call, and that was his job.”

 

Marion Ali

“So yesterday he got a call for a job?”

 

Jorge Romero

“Yes, he did get a call for a job in that area. He done deliver his package, and he was coming back to his station here at home when this accident happened.”

 

Romero shared that, amidst his grief, he faced another setback when no one who handled his son could return his wallet and IDs.

 

Jorge Romero

“My son’s properties. He reached with the properties at the hospital. And yesterday they just gave me one tennis, his pants, his helmet, and some little five cents.”

 

Marion Ali

“And he had what all in his pocket?”

 

Jorge Romero

“I can’t tell you the amount what he had, but he had money with him. He always got all his money because he needs change to give customers. His social security card, his driver’s license, the insurance of this motorcycle he has it with him.”

 

Marion Ali

“And you didn’t get those?”

 

Jorge Romero

“I didn’t get those.”

 

Marion Ali

“Okay, so what did the hospital or the police tell you?”

 

Jorge Romero

“The police tell me that I’m going back to the hospital and find out what happened. The nurse at the time dehn mi change shift and she calls the other shift and dehn said that they give me his wallet, but I didn’t get a wallet.”

 

Marion Ali

“Did they say who they gave from the family?”

 

Jorge Romero

“I received it. I received the bag.”

 

Elizabeth Mendez believes that Romero accidentally drove too close as he tried to overtake the truck.

 

Elizabeth Mendez

“The truck mi di come soh and he mi want to do so to the truck (gesturing to the right) because he may think he could make it faster than the truck because piece of the cycle stay in the middle of the truck and on the side of the step where you go in through the door, right there a next piece mi deh.”

 

Marion Ali for News Five.