It occurred between miles 70 and 71 on the Western Highway on the outskirts of San Ignacio Town, where a pickup truck crashed into a minivan.

Passengers inside the van were Erlin Puk, Reina Ruiz and Luis Polanco. Erlin Puk suffered a broken leg, while Renia Ruiz received injuries to her leg and chest. The most seriously hurt was driver, Luis Polanco- who was trapped inside the vehicle and had to be rescued.

He received severe head injuries and was hospitalized in a coma at the Belize Healthcare Partners Limited. Polanco was given a 50/50 chance of survival but on January 2 at about 6am, he succumbed to his injuries while undergoing surgery.

A Post Mortem Examination confirmed the cause of death as severe head injuries.

Polanco along with Erlin Puk and Reina Ruiz were traveling to their work-site at Windy Hill Resort the morning of the accident when 20 year old Ian Vega who was traveling in the opposite direction, veered into their lane. Many speculated that Vega was driving under the influence that morning, but so far we have not received any information from the police if a blood test was performed to determine where or not he was driving under the influence.