Man Dies in Collision One Week After Purchasing Motorcycle

In recent months, fatal road traffic accidents have tragically become one of the leading causes of death in Belize. This past weekend, the country mourned the loss of two more lives in separate accidents in the northern and southern regions. One of the victims was Elias Cowo, a resident of San Felipe, who lost his life en route to August Pine Ridge Village. News Five’s Britney Gordon brings us the details in this report.

 

Britney Gordon, Reporting

In late October, Elias Cowo from San Felipe was anxious to buy a new motorcycle. Little did he know, just a week later, he’d be taking his final ride. Around ten p.m., Elias hopped on his bike, heading to a party he was excited about. Tragically, he never made it. His brother, Daniel, recounts the heartbreaking events of that night.

 

Daniel Cowo, Brother of Deceased

“I was at the home with my mom. She was sick. Afterward, I told her, where’s my breda? She told me she, he had left from him. He just bathe, and gone outside with the motorcycle. So I tell my mom.  He will come back right now. Cause he always do that. Well, then I went to buy some stuff. Then I come back to my house. And then I leave. After that, then I come out. When I come out, I had a call from my wife. And she tell me that something happen to my breda.”

 

Britney Gordon

This is the road Cowo was travelling. And just before he made it to Shipyard Junction, reportedly, a drunken man entered into his path. And in an attempt to avoid him, he lost his life.

 

Britney Gordon

“When you got there and saw that, what was the feeling upon seeing something like that?”

 

Daniel Cowo

“Well, I got scared. It’s my brother, so I cannot do nothing.”

 

Britney Gordon

“Were there already paramedics on the scene trying to assist him”

 

Daniel Cowo

“No, no. There was nothing about that. Only the police officers were there. But they were waiting for, like, somebody from the family who know that that’s the body of him in there. So that’s why I was there. I reach there late though. I neva know about it. I just gone.”

 

Reports say the person who wandered onto the road was drunk but luckily only got minor injuries. However, Elias’ brother, Cowo, shared that Elias wasn’t wearing a helmet and might have been drinking too.

 

Daniel Cowo

“I think that he got an injury in his foot and his hand.  But, I’m not sure what happened exactly. But my brother died in the instantly. He was going with the motorcycle. I think, when he said in person closer, he crashed with it.”

 

Britney Gordon

“Trying to avoid him?”

 

Daniel Cowo

“Yeah. And it was already close because my brother was drunk too, so we could not do nothing.”

 

Elias’ mother, Isabel Cowo, is taking his death the hardest. She told us that she had pleaded with him not to ride the motorcycle that night.

 

Isabel Cowo, Mother of Deceased

“I am making all the arrangements right now to be able to get my son’s body, but it’s been very difficult. Everything takes a process. So far, I’ve been told we have to wait through the process to get his body. We don’t know if it will take a week or two. We dont know. We understand that it’s not only his case; there are other families as well in similar situations, waiting for updates. All I know is that I’m trying my best. To tell you the truth, I have never been through such an ordeal like this before. My husband’s death felt different. But losing my son—it’s a pain I’ve never felt before. Right now I’m feeling very hurt; I feel bad; it’s something that I think no one can really overcome alone, only with the help of God. That’s really all I can say for now.”

 

While Daniel admits that Elias could be a bit reckless at times, he fondly remembers his brother’s infectious, jovial spirit that lit up every room he entered.

 

Daniel Cowo

“He used to go out around with a lot of guys. He always goes to a party and dance and everything. He enjoy, like too much to enjoy everything, yeah. But, I always tell him, be careful for everything. You don’t know what’s going to happen to you if you go on the motorcycle and drunk. My mom doesn’t want it that way. He did buy a motorcycle, so that’s why.”

Daniel says that he is trying to be there for his mother as he attempts to process his own grief. Britney Gordon for News Five.