Accident - Channel 5 Belize

Popular Belmopan Entrepreneur Dies Following RTA

Belmopan is mourning the loss of Skyler Williams, a beloved businessman who tragically died in a motorcycle accident on Saturday afternoon. Williams, thirty-four, was riding his motorcycle on George Price Boulevard with a female passenger when they collided with a van. The impact threw both off the bike, and sadly, Williams’ injuries were fatal. Known throughout the city as the life of the party and an exceptional chef, Williams’ death has left a void in the community. News Five’s Paul Lopez traveled to Belmopan to bring us more on this heartbreaking story.

Paul Lopez, Reporting

The sudden death of Skyler Williams, a thirty-four-year-old businessman from Belmopan, has deeply affected his community. Since his tragic passing in a traffic accident on Saturday, social media has been flooded with heartfelt condolences and memories of Williams. He was well-loved for his vibrant personality and culinary skills. Chantel Magdaleno-Petzold was one of the first to arrive at the scene near a grocery store on George Price Boulevard, just moments after the accident occurred.

Chantel Magdaleno-Petzold, First Responder

“I was trying to help with the young lady that got involved in the accident. He was just giving that young lady a ride. We were trying to calm her down because she was having a asthmatic attack and said she was asthmatic. She gave me some of the information of what happened. I walked back to Skyler, I still did not know it was him. His phone rang and I picked up the phone and saw a picture of him and I got hysterical. That dah my, not my blood brother. That is my brother. I stayed there with him. Mr. Simpson was also on the scene and we calmed him down. We stayed there for about fifteen or twenty minutes before the police came. The ambulance came about ten minutes after the police came, so we was laying on the ground for about twenty to thirty minutes before aid was rendered to him.”

Williams was driving his motorcycle along with a female passenger when they crashed into an oncoming van. Police say that an investigation is underway.

ACP Hilberto Romero, Regional Commander, Eastern Division

“Police visited the area where the saw a motorcycle and a van with damages. Information is that a motorcycle being driven by Skyler Williams who had a passenger with him, and the van was being driven by Terresa Reyes, at some point the collided. Skyler Williams was taken for treatment where he succumbed to his injuries.”

Chantel Magdaleno-Petzold

“She said he was giving her a ride, taking her home and they were taking her into the Chinese to go to the store and the van was coming and I guess he was tyring to beat the turn before the van.”

Skyler Williams was cherished for his joyful personality and remarkable cooking skills. He made his living by catering delicious food to his customers. His mother, Danette Elijio, shared with News 5 that she taught Skyler how to cook when he was just ten years old.

On the Phone: Danette Elijio, Mother of Deceased

“Skyler was the first child to bless my womb. The one who gave me the title of mother. He was a uniquely talented individual, a gift that kept on giving even unto his last breath. At ten years old, I thought my son to cook and while he was growing up, often times we would get together on Sunday and share cooking skills. As he grew up he loved creative arts and did that best in his kitchen.”

Williams’ cousin, Gabriel Ramirez, shared similar sentiments about him.

Voice of: Gabriel Ramirez, Cousin of Deceased

“Skyler was a people person. I got a little money and we were about to, because Skyler is a food person. Everyone knows him as a food person. When people hear Skyler food they rush it because it is always quality and best. How he passed, the amount of people that show support for him that shows the kind of guy he was. I want to tell we Belmopan people, we lost a legend in Belmopan and I want to ask my people to remember him for the good ways he treated people.”

Petzold says he fought to the very end. But ultimately the injuries he sustained proved to be fatal.

Chantel Magdaleno-Petzold

“Skyler is a fighter and he fought for his life before they took him to that hospital. I stayed there until they took him to the stretcher. They got him ready to put him in the ambulance, put the neck brace on his neck. I stay there and I spoke to him. I said, Sky it is Chants. Stay there and fight, fight for your life we are getting help for you. I spoke to him. Skyler dah love, to know Skyler is to love Skyler even with his rough edges.”

Skyler Williams leaves behind three children. Reporting for News Five, I am Paul Lopez.

Truck Loses Brakes and Crashes into Drain off Main Highway

This morning, a dump truck loaded with sand crashed into a drain off the George Price Highway. The truck was coming off Frank’s Eddy Road and onto the highway when its brakes failed. The driver managed to jump out of the moving truck, but his passenger wasn’t able to escape in time. We don’t have an official report on the incident yet, but we spoke with someone who witnessed the crash. Here’s what they had to say.

Richard Neal, Eyewitness

“We mih the yah when all of a sudden we saw the truck coming. It came we heard something like the brakes or something. Next thing we heard the jake brakes and it could not hold it up. We know it would go straight in, especially how it had load. We see the driver jumped out and Adrian, when I already took him out, he told us that the door couldn’t open that is why he could not jump out. He said his hand was giving trouble and his shoulder so he probably dislocated his shoulder. We pulled him out, because it was like a side on position. So, we took him out and since we are tour guides we told him to go on the side and he just wouldn’t go on the side because the pain he was in. he got a big buss on his head. Even me, the position he was I thought his neck or hand broke but it was not that bad at least.”

Popular Punta Rock Artist “Concego” Dies in Collision

Tonight, Punta Rock lovers across the nation are mourning the death of a beloved musician. On Thursday, Deon Ogaldez, popularly known by his artist’s name, Concego, was involved in a road traffic incident along the Hummingbird Highway and later succumbed to his injuries. Ogaldez was well-known for the song “Sidown and Bounce” and is remembered as a loving son, brother, and friend. ACP Hilberto Romero provided more details on the incident today.

ACP Hilberto Romero, Regional Commander, Eastern Division

“On Thursday police responded to a road of accident near Armenia. Luis Esquivel reported he was driving a van when a motorcycle attempted to overtake another vehicle collided into his vehicle. The person fell on the street and sustained several injuries. The person was taken for treatment. He was identified as Deon Ogladez, and he received several injuries. He received treatment and died thereafter at the hospital. An investigation is being carried out. The file will be put together, sent to the DPP for directives.”

Reporter

“Any NIP issued?”

Hilberto Romero

“NIP served, and a urine sample was obtained from both drivers.”

Man Dies in Collision on Guinea Grass Road

Another family is mourning the death of a loved one after a collision in the Orange Walk District claimed the life of Carlos Landaverde. According to authorities, Landaverde was travelling along the Guinea Grass Road when his truck collided with a black SUV, resulting in his fatal injuries. He was at Northern Regional Hospital, where he was pronounced dead on arrival. ACP Hilberto Romero has a full report.

ACP Hilberto Romero, Regional Commander, Eastern Division

“On Monday, the twenty-first day of April, 2025, police responded to a theater road traffic accident at Guinea Grass. Upon the arrival is a white Chevy S10 pickup and a Ford Explorer vehicle with extensive damages. Carlos Landaverde was the driver of the S10 Chevy pickup. He received several injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene. The driver of the Ford Explorer was Oscar Garcia. NIP, served, urine sample taken, and again, the file will be prepared and sent to the DPP for directives.”

Young Father Dies in RTA Near Home Forest Village

A tragic accident claimed the life of a man from Toledo on Thursday afternoon. Around two p.m., twenty-nine-year-old Elgar Chen was riding his motorcycle from Punta Gorda towards the outskirts of town when he collided head-on with a white pick-up truck. The father of three suffered severe injuries and died at the scene. driver of the truck, Marcos Choc stated that he was unable to avoid the collision despite his best attempt. Police are still investigating the accident and have not yet released any details.

Central Transit Bus Overturns; 30 Passengers Injured

In a harrowing incident this morning, shortly after six o’clock, a Central Transit Bus overturned on the Philip Goldson Highway, leaving thirty passengers injured. The victims, including children, were swiftly transported to the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital for urgent medical attention. The K.H.M.H. sprang into action, activating its mass casualty protocol to treat the victims. The accident has raised serious concerns about speeding, road safety, and the condition of public transportation vehicles. Here’s Isani Cayetano with that story.

Isani Cayetano, Reporting

This morning, speeding and reckless driving led to a commuter bus careening off the road and overturning near mile six and a half on the Philip Goldson Highway. Onboard were over thirty passengers, including Ashanti Can, a teacher at Holy Redeemer School. Can and her children were on their way to Belize City from Lord’s Bank, comfortably seated at the back of the bus.

Ashanti Can, Accident Victim

“When we reached at Manatee Lookout, the bump there, we picked up the last set of passengers and the man crossed the bump and from there he picked up speed, and when I say speed, he was speeding very fast, because he did it yesterday. But today it was even faster and when he got there, those curves, there are some very deep curves on that side and he couldn’t take… like he went and he was unable to gain control of the bus again and when I looked up, I realized that the bus di goh soh but di tail ah di bus weh paat I deh noh di goh di same direction like di bus.”

The driver of the Central Transit Bus lost control, causing the bus to briefly veer off the road. He tried to regain control of the steering, but the bus fishtailed and swerved wildly to the other side of the road.

Ashanti Can

“For some reason, thanks, by the grace of God, we did not go in the water. We went around, he swerved again around to the next side of the road and then he swerved again and I guess that’s where he got the blowout and from there he landed on the side and the bus just skate into the bushes weh paat di lamppost deh and everybody, that was it for that bus.”

Many passengers, including children, were injured. Some had scrapes and bruises, while others suffered sprains and abrasions. Darren Slusher, a registered nurse attached to the Accident and Emergency Unit, was on duty at the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital, ready to help.

Darwin Slusher, Registered Nurse, K.H.M.H.

“Our shift supervisor made the call to announce that there was a mass casualty in effect. And so, with that said, we had to mobilize nurses, doctors and support and auxiliary staff from the various patient care units to the Accident and Emergency, being that the number that we were informed was greater than six which constitutes our mass casualty plan. How the plan works is, we’d have one of the senior nurses on duty, such as myself who would then tag and triage these patients as they enter through the main gate.”

Can was among the many victims who were brought in by ambulance. She complained of a sharp pain in her right leg.

Ashanti Can

“I felt the pain. Like one spell, I couldn’t even move. So I sat on the side of the road and that was it, I could not move from there. My leg was unable to move, it was starting to go numb and the BERT people said not to move, that they would get a stretcher to take me to the hospital. So that’s how I came to the hospital, me and my other daughter.”

When they arrived, Morris Westby, a Senior Supervisor on duty, was already waiting. He efficiently directed the flow of victims as they poured into the hospital.

Morris Westby, Senior Supervisor, K.H.M.H.

“The most difficult part would be the family members because, remember, nobody is begging to be in this hospital. People come here because they need medical attention and some family members get contacted, “Your family member was just in a crazy bus accident, they are doing bad.” All sorts of things, so you get all the family members rushing in and all people want to know is that their family members are receiving medical service and that’s why we, the security officers, the frontline people, the nurses, the doctors, give that assurance.”

Miraculously, no one was seriously injured. The KHMH quickly activated its mass casualty protocol and began treating the injured without delay.

Tylon Tillett, Public Relations, K.H.M.H.

“This is what we are designed and trained to do. We are the only hospital that can respond to a level of care that was required this morning. This morning, our security officers did an awesome job of doing their duty as security officers and chipping in where necessary to get the work done, to get the Belizean public back on par.”

Isani Cayetano for News Five.

One Brother Dead and the Other Injured in Deadly Traffic Accident

Tonight, a family is mourning the tragic loss of a loved one after a fatal traffic accident in the Corozal District on Wednesday afternoon. Around 3 p.m., brothers Gaspar and Santiago Cantun were driving a Chevy Tracker on Sarteneja Road when Gaspar lost control, causing the vehicle to flip multiple times. When the police arrived, they found Gaspar bleeding from his face and Santiago also injured. They also noted that the vehicle’s license plate was expired. The brothers were rushed to the Corozal Community Hospital, where Gaspar sadly succumbed to his injuries. Santiago has since been released.

San Ignacio Family Seeks Financial Assistance for Accident Victim

The family of a San Ignacio resident is urgently seeking financial help for a lifesaving surgery. Alfredo Novelo shared with News Five that his son, Josue Novelo, was in a traffic accident on Sunday morning while riding his motorcycle home. Josue is now hospitalized at the Western Regional Hospital, with a ten-thousand-dollar surgery scheduled for next week. Unfortunately, his family can’t afford the cost. We spoke with his father over the phone to learn more about their situation.

On The Phone: Alfredo Novelo, Father of Accident Victim

“It was this past Saturday night, he was at a friend’s house in San Ignacio and it was a little late. His mom was calling him to come home, because it was already about two in the morning. He answered and say yeah he is coming. But he decided to come about three in the morning. So about three thirty we got a knock on our door form a police officer that knows us. He is a close member to the family. He knocked on the door and said Mr. Novelo I have bad news for you. We found your son by the new bridge and it looked like he crashed the motorcycle and he is broken up. His hand and his foot and maybe his back, but he is all broken up. That is how we found out he got in the accident. Financially we would really appreciate help form anybody that could assist us. The operation is going to cost ten thousand dollars and that is very difficult for the families. So we are asking friends and families if they can support for us to do the operation as quick as possible. He is talking about Monday, or Tuesday or somewhere around there.”

6-year-old Stella Maris Student Drowns at Hangar

An investigation is underway after the tragic drowning of six-year-old Gabriel Pablo Orellano, a student at Stella Maris School. Earlier today, Gabriel left school and somehow ended up at the hangar near the Belize City municipal airstrip. Sadly, he entered the water and didn’t resurface until his body washed ashore later. In response to this tragedy, Stella Maris School canceled classes for the rest of the day. This afternoon, the Ministry of Education issued a statement expressing their deep sorrow over the loss. They emphasized their commitment to supporting Gabriel’s family during this difficult time and urged the community to keep the family and the Stella Maris School in their thoughts and prayers. We’ll have more information in our subsequent newscast.

Police Still Seeking Suspect in Fatal RTA

Police are actively searching for suspects linked to a fatal crash on the George Price Highway last Thursday evening. The collision occurred around 7:20 p.m. near Mile 47 and claimed the life of 50-year-old Maria Caal Xi, a Guatemalan national residing in Cotton Tree Village, Cayo. Authorities arrived at the scene to find a heavily damaged grey 1999 Toyota pickup and a wrecked 2025 Chevrolet Camaro about 30 feet away. The pickup’s driver, 70-year-old Manuel Juarez, told police that he saw a speeding vehicle approach before feeling an impact and losing consciousness. Witnesses reported that the Camaro’s driver fled the scene by jumping over a roadside barrier and disappearing into nearby bushes. Commissioner of Police Chester Williams provided an update on the ongoing investigation earlier today.

Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police

“I don’t think we have found that person as yet. He was still being sought by the police.”

Reporter

“How is it that they have evaded if da just bushes?”

Chester Williams

“Well, the amount of time he had a good lead before the police got there he perhaps know the area well, and so he was able to escape. We’re hoping that we’ll be able to find him.”