7 News Belize

Engineer Killed In Highway Accident
posted (December 7, 2011)
Last night we told you about a terrible accident on the Western Highway between miles 28 and 29.

It happened around 5:50 as 45 year old Engineer Wayne Williams was heading to Belmopan in his pickup when he came upon an accident waiting to happen.

It cost him his life, and Monica Bodden was on the scene to find out more:

Monica Bodden Reporting

We arrived on the scene at about 7 o'clock last night - 45 minutes after the traffic accident took place.

This white Westline bus was seen parked on the eastbound lane of the highway - the front driver's side of the bus was smashed in - while the same half of the bus's windshield was shattered.

About 9 hundred and thirty five feet away was the white Toyota Tacoma pickup truck - inside the lifeless body of Wayne Williams an engineer and the Director of Central Building Authority.

His white pickup truck was extensively damaged - smashed to pieces beyond recognition. Near the pickup truck in the westbound lane of the road was this water truck - with its water tank painted black - hardly visible to the eyes. Observers said it is to blame for the fatal mishap.

The accident happened around 6:15 yesterday evening between miles 28 and 29 on the Western Highway.

The water truck - which was traveling from Belize City to Belmopan -was parked directly in the path of oncoming westbound traffic - after one of its back wheels broke off. There were no markers on the road to signal drivers - it was an accident waiting to happen.

And it did as soon as night fell - which is when Wayne Williams was travelling in that same direction.

By the time he noticed the truck on the darkened highway, he tried swerving to avoid colliding into the back of the water truck -but while doing so, a Westline bus - traveling in the opposite direction was coming.

Stanley Ramclam- Driver of the Westline Bus
"I was heading to Belize City, and I saw an obstruction at the forward. A water truck was parked with no lights or reflectors or anything of the sort, on the opposite side. And the pickup that was heading toward Belmopan pulled out right in front of me from behind the truck, because it looked like when he saw the truck, it was too sudden. You couldn't see the truck. He pulled out right in front of me. I pulled off the road, but everything happened in seconds."

Trying his best not to collide head on with Williams's pick truck that swerved in front of his bus loaded with passengers -Ramclam attempted to take the bus off the road.

The vehicle hit the driver's side of the bus causing still a massive impact. Where the bus stopped was exactly 935 feet away from the extensively damaged vehicle.

Some passengers on the bus had to guide the driver to stay on the road because splinters from the bus's windshield were in his eyes.

Stanley Ramclam
"The whole of my face had splinters; I couldn't see anything. I don't know who it was but I heard voices, who told me to hold the bus straight on the road."

Monica Bodden
"So someone was helping you lead the bus."

Stanley Ramclam
"Yes, my whole face was filled with glass; I had to wash my eyes and face with water."

Reporter
"How are you, Mr. Ramclam?"

Stanley Ramclam
"Okay."

Reporter
"Did you suffer any pain. Did you suffer anything."

Stanley Ramclam
"Its like pain in the back of my neck, and my back."

Monica Bodden
"So this was something that couldn't have been avoided."

Stanley Ramclam
"No, I was on my side. He just weaved out in front of me."

It took almost 3 hours before the body of Engineer Wayne Williams was removed from out of the crushed vehicle, put in the pan of this police pick-up truck, and was taken away to the morgue in Belmopan.

Stanley Ramclam
"That truck had nothing to indicate that it was there. I don't blame the driver from the pickup; it's not his fault. When he actually saw the truck, he was almost into the rear-end of the vehicle. He pulled out on me -"

Monica Bodden
"So there was absolutely no light on the truck?"

Stanley Ramclam
"Nothing at all."

Police issued a report this evening which says that STANLEY RAMCLAM's bus had 20 passengers while the driver of the water bowser, 38 year old ERVAN AGUSTINE, was fixing a damaged tire.

No notice of intended prosecution has been served.

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