80 year old American Gordon Stout is in lockdown at the Queen’s Street Police Station tonight after he knocked down and killed a man this morning on the Northern Highway. The victim is 28 year old Dorian Herrera – a deaf mute who was working alongside the highway when tragedy struck between miles 24 and 25. Our team was on the scene.

Keith Swift Reporting,
Dorian Herrera was knocked down and killed at mile 24 on Northern Highway in Biscayne Village. He had just finished cutting grass in the area and in a tragic irony – he was hit while crossing the highway to place this sign on the roadside to warn drivers that more grass cutters would be working in the area.

Paul Bradley, Boss and Friend of Deceased
“It is a sad thing happened to one of my worker. We stopped here with the bush hog on the roadside and I asked him to go and put the sign across the road and when he was taking the sign a vehicle came and knocked him over and the man dead. Actually my back was turned to the pickup and I just told him to take the sign across. When I heard the commotion and I swung around I saw him in the air.”

Dorian Herrera had been hit by this Toyota Matrix with Mexican license plates. It was driven by 80 year old American national Gordon Stout – seen here on the scene this morning with police. The force of the impact from the car launched Dorian in the air. He landed on the hood, smashing the windshield and crushing front right area of the Toyota Matrix.

Stout continued driving an additional 150 feet with Dorian Herrera’s body on the bonnet. He eventually braked and that’s when Dorian was flung to the side of the highway. He died on the spot.

Paul Bradley,
“That boy been around me about six years.”

Keith Swift,
“I understand he was a hard worker.”

Paul Bradley,
“Oh yes…I lost a good man.”

Paul Bradley who employed Dorian says that while he was on the scene, his back was turned and he didn’t see the accident so he refused to assign blame.

Paul Bradley,
“All I could say is an accident always the look for a place to happen, that’s all I could say. I am a driver myself so like I said we weren’t cautious enough nuh.”

But in Double Head Cabbage, Dorian Herrera’s family is pointing fingers. His sister Tricia Diaz says that her brother, who was mute, probably didn’t hear the car coming but she is sure that the driver saw Dorian.

Tricia Diaz, Sister of Deceased
“I would just want justice served for that person because if you are driving you have to drive with due care and attention. If you see somebody in the road at least slow down, at least slow down to try and not knock that person or try to make that person get out your way. You have to drive for you and for a next person coming behind you and front of you. You can’t just the drive like crazy.”

Keith Swift,
“He was mute and so could he hear?”

Tricia Diaz,
“He mostly goes by lips. He would read your lips and know what you are saying. But he doesn’t hear good. He doesn’t hear good.”

Keith Swift,
“So he didn’t hear the vehicle coming?”

Tricia Diaz,
“No I don’t think he heard that vehicle, he didn’t hear it because he wasn’t hearing good.”

Keith Swift,
“But you still blame the driver?”

Tricia Diaz,
“Well he is seeing front of him. Maybe he (Dorian) nuh the hear but the driver saw him because he is driving. So I blame him to a certain extent because Dorian wasn’t hearing. If he was hearing he wouldn’t have been in that street to get knock down.”

And that may be the ultimate tragedy of this morning’s incident because throughout his life, Dorian Herrera defied his disability.

Tricia Diaz,
“He always the work. He is always working. As you miss him, he is telling you, ‘me work, me work,’ he is always working and he is a friendly person. The amount of people who Dorian know, you wouldn’t believe to say he is dumb and thing. But the amount of people who he knows, a lot of people know him. But this morning a real tragedy happened to him.”

A tragedy his family and those who treated him like family will now need to come to terms with.

We note that 80 year old Gordon Stout was driving towards Belize City. He was charged in court this afternoon for manslaughter by negligence, causing death by careless conduct and driving without due care and attention. He was offered bail of 5 thousand dollars but he needed a Belizean surety. He couldn’t find one by the close of business at the Magistrate’s Court today and so he will be held overnight at the Queen’s Street Police Station. Although he is an American national, Stout resides in Consejo Shores in Corozal.