There was a terrible accident just outside of Orange Walk Town last night which claimed the life of a career BDF Soldier, and put another in the hospital. The officers were driving a BDF truck on their way from Orange Walk to Belize City when they lost control and collided head-on into an ADO Bus which makes regular trips from Belize to Cancun, Mexico.
The Bus had 34 tourists on it, including Belizeans who were heading to Cancun. Fortunately, none of them were injured. The soldier, Staff Sergeant Artemio Mendez, was not so lucky, and the impact of the vehicle smashed it to bits, trapping him in the driver's seat. It is believed that he died on impact or shortly thereafter, right on the scene.
Our News team has been following the story since last night, and with the help of our colleagues from CTV3 News, Daniel Ortiz put together this story today. Here's what he found out:
Daniel Ortiz reporting
This wrecked vehicle was barely recognizable, but it's the remnants of an unmarked BDF Mahindra Pickup truck. The wreckage clearly shows the massive impact that it experienced when it collided head-on with this ADO Bus.
The Mahindra was being driven by Staff Sergeant Artemio Mendez, and he had his fellow officer, Lt. Argel Flores, with him in the vehicle. These Intelligence Officers, were on official business when they slammed into the ADO Bus which was heading toward the Belize Mexico Border.
But, neither party arrived at their destination after this accident here at Mile 42 on the Northern Highway. Staff Sergeant Mendez died from the head and body injuries he suffered in the crash, and his trapped body had to be rescued from the wreckage.
Two passengers, who were on the ADO Bus at the time of the accident, described what they saw:
Ashanti "Airbender" Garcia - Passenger, ADO Bus
"While I was sleeping and then all of a sudden I just heard a huge bang in the front of the vehicle and it felt like the bus was swerving side to side. I heard splashing to water, people screaming. It only lasted for a few seconds, but it was a bit scary."
Reporter
"What are the passengers saying?"
Ashanti "Airbender" Garcia - Passenger, ADO Bus
"Well people were really confused and scared. People started to come out of the bus and I heard things like oh, they think that a driver came into the wrong lane and hit us. People were saying that one of the tires blew out and so it was a lot of loud noise in the beginning."
Voice of: Tourist From Spain - Passenger, ADO Bus
"The guy only had one light and then was moving like sleeping on the road and then crash into the bus. But the bus was perfect, like the bus was on the correct and the right side and was not fast. The driver did everything correct."
Reporter
"Do you know where is the driver of the ADO Bus? I understand that he is not here."
Ashanti "Airbender" Garcia - Passenger, ADO Bus
"I dont know, but everyone is just saying it seems like he is not in the scene and we are not sure why, because we really think he did a good job of handling the situation. It could have been much worse. Because I heard that the other vehicle was heading head on, so he swerve to try to avoid it, but he still caught the side."
ASP Selvin Tillett - OC, Orange Walk Police
"The information is that the driver of the ADO Bus fled the scene, but later handed over himself to the police. The ADO Bus at the time was loaded with 34 tourists. Mathias Gaspar Marcus, the driver of the bus has since provided urine sample and NIP has been served on him."
Lieutenant Argel Flores is recovering at the BDF Medical facility at the Price Barracks compound.
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