Tragic Mishap Claims Life of a Well-known Public Officer

Emily Guy

Just after six on Saturday morning, a senior public officer was hit in front of the Novelo’s Terminal, Belize City, by a vehicle driven by Victor Gibbs. Emily Guy and friend were in that neighborhood to purchase coconut water when the horrible accident happened. The area was buzzing with market activity when Gibbs crashed into the duo. Guy was pinned between the vehicle and a lamppost and died hours later at the K.H.M.H.  Guy is a well-known missionary where she distributions the Watch Tower, a publication of the Jehovah Witnesses.  News Five’s Duane Moody reports.

Duane Moody, Reporting

This morning, twenty-nine year old Victor Mason Gibbs was arraigned in the Magistrate Court for six counts charges including manslaughter by negligence and driving with alcohol level above the prescribed limit after a traffic accident on Saturday morning across from the Novelo’s Bus Terminal on West Collet Canal.  Just after six o’clock, Emily Guy and one of her church sisters were purchasing coconut water when they were hit from behind by an SUV.

Chester Williams

ACP Chester Williams, Regional Commander, Eastern Division South

“The driver had been in our custody since the accident occurred. He was charged on Saturday for driving without due attention and yesterday his charges were upgraded to manslaughter by negligence.”

Reporter

“We understand that he was under the influence. Was he drunk?”

ACP Chester Williams

“Well I am no doctor and the police officers are no doctor or chemists, but we have done all that needs to be done to be able to ascertain whether or not he was under the influence or was in a stable state of mind. We had done blood and urine samples that will be sent to the lab and as soon as those results come back—which in he has been charged for that—then it will just be used to substantiate the charge for which he has been charged.”

Victor Gibbs

Guy, who has been working as a finance officer at the Treasury Department for over thirty-two years, was rushed to the K.H.M.H. for treatment after the vehicle was taken off of her, severing her leg. After undergoing a surgery just before eleven Saturday morning, she was placed in an induced coma and died less than twenty-four hours later.

ACP Chester Williams

“In that accident one female’s leg was amputated. She was taken to the hospital and yesterday she succumbed to her injuries. I am told that she is Jehovah Witness and she had refused a blood transfusion and that may have led to her death. But let me say this, there is a thing in law that says that you must take your victim as you find them. So the fact that even if she refused the blood transfusion, she could have lived. That does not negate responsibility from the driver of that motor vehicle.”

There was a second person that was also injured in the accident.

ACP Chester Williams

“The other person is still in the hospital recovering. The injuries were not as grave as that of the lady who passed away and we are hoping for a full recovery for the other person.”

Gibbs was remanded to the Belize Central Prison in Hattieville after bail was denied. Duane Moody for News Five.