15 year old student hospitalized after jumping off a moving truck

This morning, a student of the Tubal Trade and Vocational Institute near Lord’s Bank on the Phillip Goldson Highway was involved in a traffic mishap. The incident, however, was caused by bad judgment on the part of the victim.  Alexander Willoughby, a first year student in the Electrical Program at the institution, was one of the featured youths in Channel Five’s annual Summer Fest that provides a platform for young people to showcase their talents in the creative arts—singing, dancing, poetry and drama. But on his way to school today from Belize City, the fifteen year old hopped on to the bumper of a truck, unknown to the driver. While the truck drove in front of Tubal, Willoughby jumped off the vehicle crashing into to the pavement; hitting his head, breaking his feet and sustaining other injuries. News Five spoke to Founding Director of Tubal, Lyndon Bailey, who says that for years he has been clamoring for a pedestrian crossing near the school to avoid mishaps.

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Lyndon Bailey, Founding Director, Tubal Trade and Vocational Institute

Lyndon Bailey

“When he reaches the bump, a Belikin delivery truck was passing and when the truck slowed down to cross the bump, he hopped on the back of the truck and I believe that the driver didn’t know that he was behind the truck and by the time the truck moved from the bump to where Tubal is, he tried to jump off but I believe the truck was going too fast and he received a lot of injuries to the body.”

Duane Moody

“Now you came from the hospital…what are the doctors saying? Are any of his injuries life-threatening?”

Lyndon Bailey

“Well I don’t know because the doctor didn’t want anybody to go in as yet. We have been trying to ask the government through the last area representative to put a speed bump here because we had a hundred and fifty kids and we have come close to some of those kids being run over by trucks. And up to now, no speed bump has ever reached here. I don’t know why we have to wait until things happen for us to spring into action. I hate to use this situation to try and ask the government to please give us a speed bump; please put a speed bump right here so that the traffic can slow down passing the school because it is very dangerous. When you have a hundred kids or fifty kids going out, there is no walkway on the side of the road. These big trucks come flying through; I mean one mistake and these kids will find themselves killed.”

Bailey says that they once provided a bus for the students; this was paid by government. After six months, it was discontinued due to lack of funding.