7 News Belize

62 Year Old Female Killed in Traffic Accident
posted (June 11, 2012)
A fatal traffic accident on the Northern Highway between miles 3 and 4-claimed the life of an elderly woman. According to police, around 8:25 on Saturday night, 62 year old Maria Torres had just got off a bus by the Benny's Apartment junction- and while crossing the highway she was hit by a moving Ford Ranger Pickup truck traveling from the direction of the Haulover Bridge.

The vehicle was driven by 56 year old engineer James Bowman. Torres received severe body injuries and died shortly after. Today 7news caught up with the family of Torres who told us that Bowman's statement to police isn't quite the same as those who witnessed the accident. They strongly believe that he may have been in the wrong.

Sarah Torres, Daughter of Deceased
"She was coming to visit my sister in Belama. She came off the bus but she missed the lane, the bus stopped far from where she was supposed to come off. According to people that saw what happened she got off the bus and cross the street and there were two vehicles coming, one of them almost hit my mom, the one behind actually did."

"He is telling the police that my mom was in the middle of street and he didn't see her. When I saw the body the body in the middle of the street or not even at side of the street, it was almost off the street. Her feet were almost on the grass."

"She is a very precious person to me and it was hard to see her there lying on the street side after I saw her the day before at home. After I saw the body I was taken to the police station. He was there sitting down, I didn't know this person but the police told me. I felt strange because this was the person that took mom's life."

"I talk to him yesterday and he told me that he would help us with the funeral. He told me that I should meet him here in Belize City today. I came here and call him but his phone was off. So I couldn't contact him, but after a while I call him and he said that he was busy, he said that he would call me back then he hangs up."

"It's very hard mostly for me and my little sister that was living with her. Now that she is gone we are completely lonely. All we are asking is for this man to keep his promise to help us with the funeral. We are a poor family and we don't have any finances. If he doesn't help then we will look for justice, we will make his pay for what he did."

A notice of intended prosecution has been issued on James Bowman.

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