Still No Charges for the Driver that Knocked Down and Killed Marilena Mortis

Marilena Mortis

There are still no charges for the driver of the vehicle which knocked down and killed twenty-three-year-old Marilena Mortis. Mortis had just visited with her mother on Dolphin Drive in the Buttonwood Bay area of the city and was crossing the Philip Goldson Highway near DK’s Supermarket when she was struck by a vehicle. The impact sent the mother of two several feet away to her death. We were unable to get any comment from the City Hall, other than for its PR Manager to say that, “The Belize City Council expressed those same safety concerns to the Ministry of Works. Unfortunately, the work on the Phillip Goldson Highway including the cement barriers is an ongoing project of Central Government’s Ministry of Works and not the Belize City Council. They will have to speak further on the accident and the future of the works being done on the highway.” But will the tragedy see any changes made? ASP Alejandro Cowo implores pedestrians to use assigned crossings along the roads.

Alejandro Cowo

ASP Alejandro Cowo, O.C., C.I.B., Belize City

“It’s a concern and the barriers were placed for a reason and if you see that one of them—we call it the slower lane than the other one. She is not the first person that has jumped that barrier. There are several persons even though they know the risk that they are running, they still go ahead and jump it whilst traffic is coming. We would advise persons to be careful and desist from jumping the barriers because sometimes they are not paying attention and they do not know what is coming in front of them.”

Reporter

“People still need to cross the highway—whether they are students in the evening or people going to the store. Would the police department advise the Ministry of Works regarding possibly placing in some kind of cross walk?”

ASP Alejandro Cowo

“Well I think there are different entries and exits in that area and that is what the drivers have to use. Even though sometimes it is far for them, but it is the most safe place to travel.”