7 News Belize

One Critical One Injured After Serious Accident: Is Drunk Driving To Blame?
posted (December 28, 2011)
And while all the stories we've told you about so far in this newscast happened on or before Christmas, we move now to Boxing Day, when there was a major accident, on the outskirts of San Ignacio Town.

A minivan, travelling from Succotz heading in the direction of San Ignacio town was carrying workers from Windy Hills resort to their jobsite - when a vehicle travelling in the opposite direction crashed into them.

Erlin Puk, Reina Ruiz and Luis Polanco were travelling in the minivan. Puk suffered a broken leg, while Reina received injuries to her leg and chest. The third person in the vehicle, Luis Polanco was trapped inside the vehicle and had to be rescued. His injuries are critical and tonight he is in a coma.

7news spoke with Puk from his hospital bed, who told us, that the driver of the other vehicle, who collided into theirs, was intoxicated:

Monica Bodden Reporting

Erlin Puk - Accident Victim
"The incident occurred two days ago. We were heading to work at 5:45, something like that, and we were driving on the highway. We then saw this car coming on the opposite direction, and our driver was driving; he was okay because we were going to work. I saw him blinking the light so that the next driver coming in the opposite direction saw it. But then, this guy just didn't bother stopping, or he just came straight and crash into us. The crash happened and I fell down, and I tried to get up. I heard my friend Luis and Reina screaming for help. When I heard it, I tried to get up and help them, but as I opened the door of the van, I fell out. I realize that I had my foot broken. I couldn't do anything for my friends. They were screaming for help. People that came after a while, stopped and gave us assistance. They took us to San Ignacio Hospital."

Inside the vehicle with Erlin Puk were Reina Ruiz and Luis Polanco. Polanco was trapped inside the vehicle for almost an hour.

Erlin Puk
"My friend got stuck there in the car for - I don't recall how long, but I was taken to the hospital, and he was still there. According to what I heard, he was there for atleast 45 minutes or something like that. The people that took me - I don't recall who they were, but they were good Belizeans. They stopped for us, and took us to the hospital. We were there waiting for the nurses to take care of us. Reina, she was bleeding; she was rushed to emergency. I was waiting there for assistance."

Puk alleges that the driver of the vehicle who collided into them was intoxicated.

Erlin Puk
"When I saw that this guy, Vega, they brought him in, he was walking with his forehead covered. He was bleeding from scratches on his face."

Monica Bodden
"Was he the driver of the other vehicle that collided with you?"

Erlin Puk
"Yes, he was the driver. We sat down and waiting for me to get assistance, and his family got there. They were doing phone calls, and the next thing I know, they pass him in front. The nurses took care of him, and the next thing I realize is that my brother told me to look at the guy. When the nurses were taking care of him, he was sleeping. He was snoring. Those are signs that he was drunk, because he crashed, he should have wanted to see what happened to him. He was snoring. So after that, we were there. His brother was standing to where I was, and I heard him when he called some police guy to let their car pass for him. They were not letting anyone go there, and he passed. The next thing I heard was that he was brought in the ambulance instead of the ambulance going to look for my friend, Luis. When the ambulance brought Reina and us, we had to wait until it went back and brought us to KHMH. That's what I recall from the incident."

And even though Reina Ruiz and Erlin Puk is tonight hospitalized in a stable condition, their co-worker Luis Polanco is in a coma.

Erlin Puk
"Luis is the one that got it the worst. At the moment, he's in a coma, and he has a fractured face. All of this - his lips were burst open, this was broken. I believe that his knees are broken. He has gone into - some of his ribs are broken, and he has gone into cardiac arrest. God is with him because he is still alive, and we hope and pray that he makes. Reina, she got a big wound on her leg. What I know is that the last time the told me about her; she was complaining of pain in her chest and her spine. The other guy was - I don't know where he is, but he didn't get anything mostly. He's okay; He was walking in and out."

Just a few more details.

The accident happened at 6:00 am on Monday between miles 70 and 71. Police say a D- Max Pickup travelling in the opposite direction swerved into the Van's lane. The driver is Ian Vega a 20 year old businessman of Church St. Benque Viejo Town who received injuries to the chest, face and abdomen.

Police only sent out the details minutes ago and did not disclose the results of a blood/alcohol test, if any was taken.

We hope to have more on this tomorrow...

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