BDF Truck Driver Charged After Christmas Eve Crash

A Belize Defence Force (BDF) truck driver has been charged following an accident on the Southern Highway on Christmas Eve. Joseph Cifiriano Avila, 48, from Lord’s Bank Village, faces charges of “failure to provide specimen” and “driving without due care and attention.”

The crash occurred near the Bocawina Junction around 6:40 p.m. on Tuesday. Video footage shows Avila’s truck flipped onto its roof while he was driving from Punta Gorda to Price Barracks.

 He was accompanied by one passenger. 

Avila told police he swerved to avoid a motorcycle, but the truck veered off the road and overturned.

Officers detected a strong scent of alcohol on Avila’s breath, and he refused to provide a sample for testing. He was later charged and issued a Notice of Intended Prosecution. 

No serious injuries were reported from the incident.