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Jules Vasquez reporting
Four young bodies with cloths draped over them - the terrible toll of an accident that almost defies description and comprehension The top of the cab was crushed right down to the floor of the truck - first responders say the pickup was wrapped around the nearby tree.

Today the tree is still standing only slightly scarred. While the truck is a mangled wreck - the only thing intact are the tires - all are inflated, so we know it wasn't a blowout - but not much else is known:

Supt Chris Noble, O/C Ladyville
"We still don't know what may or may not have caused the accident. There are several factors we are looking into and we are going to cover all of them. To say that the road condition may have played a role, I would not be able to say at this stage. That is for us in our investigation to continue to look into."

All we do know is that the pickup was headed to the city, and 22 year old Hector Daniel Gongora was driving, when he lost control, veered onto the swampy shoulder, and he may have turned, which it is believed launched the pickup violently towards the tree.

The top of the truck made contact and folded around the tree, crushing all four passengers.

Neither front impact airbags nor seatbelts could save anyone because the crushing force came from above:

Jules Vasquez
"Is it the conclusion; is it the finding of the post mortem that they didn't have a chance that they all died on impact?"

Supt Chris Noble, O/C Ladyville
"The conclusion of the post mortem I haven't really gone through as yet. The post mortem on a whole did only clear up the fact that what was on scene was severe violence and that is what caused their death; a lot of violence."

Uncommon violence, especially for a single vehicle accident - and even on the Christmas day the response by the airport fire team, the national fire service and the BDF was also uncommon:

Supt Chris Noble, O/C Ladyville
"The effort like I said by all person; the airport, the military, the police and other persons that were on scene was amazing."

But there was nothing they could do - apart from using the so called Jaws of Life to cut off the top of the truck and remove the young bodies, as family members looked on at the horrific sight.

For them, it's an inconceivable Christmas day tragedy:

Rafael Gongora, Driver, Hector, was youngest son
"First thing I saw was my plate and I said that that's it, my pick-up. I see two bodies already out and then I saw how they took his body out and the other guy."

Raphael Amoa, Guardian for Yanira and Shamir
"I have never done something like that, to see your love ones destroy their face, their hands. You can't help but just start crying instantly seeing something like that - people that you love, you see them growing up, Christmases, birthdays, its horrific. I wouldn't want that to happen to anybody, it's horrible. I came home and I hugged my two children. I couldn't imagine something ever happen to them like that."

Rafael Gongora, Driver, Hector, was youngest son
"In the year 2000, I lost one of my sons, 18 years old. It's a shock that you get, but I praised the Lord (I am a Christian) because he taught me with wisdom to face situations like this, so I just bolt myself and go forward. That's the way I take it."

Gongora who owns the pickup believes a hole in the road caused them to lose control:

Rafael Gongora, Driver, Hector, was youngest son
"Where the Williamson Factory used to be, there is a curve there. Apparently, I don't know if he fell in a hole or on the side and he lost control and what happened from his right hand side he went to the left hand side and he couldn't control it, so actually the cabin on the pickup knock the two trees and it really sandwich them."

Daniel Ortiz
"Could alcohol may have played a role in the accident?"

Rafael Gongora, Driver, Hector, was youngest son
"They came out about 4am and I don't see that they were drinking or anything like that. It was during the day and they were cooling off washing the pick-up and so on."

Noble says there's a very tough lesson for everyone in this:

Supt Chris Noble, O/C Ladyville
"Be careful on the road; drive safely. In times of festivities there are many factors; the distraction of persons using the road, the use of beverages in your system, that may cause problems and we need to know our limits. That highway has been deteriorating and we can't say otherwise than be careful. It can't be repaired, the rains are here."

In the story, we erroneously reported that the vehicle was headed for the city; in fact it was headed back up to Ladyville and veered towards the shoulder on the other side of the road.

The funeral for Hector, Shamir and Dulce Yanira will be held together on Saturday at the Church of Divine Mercy.