Tonight the city is still coming to terms with the passing of one of its promising young stars, 28 year old Ariel Rosado who died in a car accident on Saturday night - while his friend, elite cyclist Marlon Castillo was at the wheel.
Ariel first rose to prominence in the late 90's as a prodigiously talented, well spoken, young cyclist. He delivered on that promise by winning or placing in multiple races including a victory in the KREM Classic in the year 2000 - when he was just 16!
Eventually though, Rosado left the sport he had gained such distinction in to go and study law. He completed his studies and was an associate at the Courtney Coye Law Practice at the time of his death.
It is a death which came unexpectedly on Saturday night when the Toyota Tacoma pickup he was a passenger in crashed violently at the PACT roundabout at mile two on the Northern Highway.
There are very many stories about what caused the crash, but reliable eyewitness accounts narrow it down to this: at about 10:45, Castillo came into the roundabout heading towards the city at an unmanageable speed; he lost control and the vehicle careened into a nearby cement fence - which, presumably, is where Rosado received massive head injuries - since the passenger side slammed the concrete fence.
Castillo has told friends that the accelerator pedal got stuck and he could not slow down the truck - which he had recently acquired.
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His friend Winston Swift was travelling right behind Castillo's pickup and saw everything - he told Monica Bodden about it:….
Winston Swift
"I was at a house in Belama socializing, Marlon and Ariel came by. Ariel was requesting for me to be in his presence from Friday night but due to I had to work on Saturday. I was ready on Saturday night and he came around and we decided to come down to Belize City to go to a friend house. He and Marlon came together and they leave together. Me and a friend that was already there we left before them so we were ahead of them coming down the highway, passing Friendship Restaurant I saw Marlon vehicle the Tacoma coming with speed, so I tell my friend to pull on the side because these guys will hit the round-about. We pull on the side and the Tacoma just kept speeding and it hit the cement wall, I see like Marlon apply his
brakes but all I smell was rubber. The vehicle hit the median and it stayed on the median and I told the guy that was driving to pull up to the vehicle and he stop right next to the vehicle. First thing as I look through the door and saw only Marlon sitting upright in the vehicle. So I ran to the vehicle and before I even tell Marlon anything Marlon; he says Swift - the aux peddle stick. I told him ok and he call out for Ariel. I went over and got him out and place him in a vehicle and send him to the hospital."
Monica Bodden
"At that time was he severely......?"
Winston Swift
"He had severe head injury from what I saw."
Monica Bodden
"So you took him out of the vehicle right?"
Winston Swift
"Yes I took him out of the vehicle to put him in a vehicle to send him to the hospital."
Monica Bodden
"You witness everything?"
Winston Swift
"Yes ma'am. To me I don't really think the guys were drunk or anything like that. While we were socializing Ariel took one drink. Like I said they came there for about half an hour before we left. I don't really know what the situation was before that, but they didn't seem totally drunk any at all. I took a hard blow just being my friend but to actually being on the scene I think that is like an extra blow for me but I don't want to the one to question God so I just it like it was his time. I don't know Marlon's feeling. He is my friend and I know Marlon took it hard because - put myself in Marlon's shoes, I would take it hard to if I was behind the wheel. Marlon is my good friend to and I plan to be here for Marlon and Marlon has a lot of us who are good friend to him and will be there for him."
Ariel Rosado had one daughter. He is the son of Dr. Alvaro Rosado, who is the former CEO of the KHMH, and Dorla Rosado of Director of Haven House for Battered Women.
And according to police, driving under the influence was a factor in the accident.
Today 23 year old Marlon Castillo appeared in court where he was arraigned on charges of manslaughter by negligence, causing death by careless conduct, driving without due care and attention, driving under the influence of alcohol above the prescribed limit and using an unlicensed motor vehicle.
No plea was taken as it is an indictable offence which will be tried in the Supreme Court if there is enough evidence. Castillo was released on bail of five thousand dollars and the case was adjourned until July 15th.
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