Email

Print

That accident happened between Miles 4 and 5 on the Phillip Goldson Highway. It appears that Hamilton was struck by a driver who did not see that his vehicle was in the road. Today our news team went looking for answers, and we found out that Hamilton couldn't get out of the way because the vehicle was having mechanical problems. Daniel Ortiz has that story:

Daniel Ortiz reporting
This grey Dodge Car showed visible signs of the impact which killed its driver, Lionel Robert Hamilton - also known as Lionel Villanueva.

That car was hit by this Green van, being driven at that time by 52 year-old Godwin Pantin. Police got the call during the early morning hours of Saturday.

Sr. Supt. Linden Flowers, OC, Police Precinct 4
"On Saturday 20 August, 2016 around 3:05am, a personell from Precinct 4 was dispatch to mile 4.5 on te Phillip Goldson Highway where officers discovered the lifeless body of Lionel Robert Hamilton who was lying face up on the side of the road - that would be on the right-hand side when travelling from Haulover to Belize City."

Though police don't know yet how the accident happened, they think that Hamilton's car was having engine failure, and he was trying to get it off the road. The van struck him while he was doing that,. The impact catapulted his body a short distance away, and the injuries he suffered claimed his life.

Sr. Supt. Linden Flowers, OC, Police Precinct 4
"Investigation thereafter by the police revealed that a green van taxi with license plates BC-D8546 was being driven from Ladyville direction into Belize City when it collided with a Dodge Neon car bearing license plates BC-C3770 which was at the time on the road driven by Mr. Lionel Robert Hamilton of a Simon Lamb Street address. We know that the 2 vehicles collided and as a result from that the investigation is revealing that Mr. Hamilton's vehicle that he was driving, was experiencing some mechanical problems and he was in the process of maneuvering the vehicle off the side of the road and then doing so, along with his companion, they saw this van coming and all their efforts to get off the road did not succeed."

For his common-law wife, she told us today that she was stunned to hear of his death, because she was waiting for him to come home like usually did.

Adelina Cho - Common-law Wife of Deceased
"I was sleeping, because I was waiting for him, because when he goes out sometimes and party, he would usually come home and hurry rush and bath and get ready for work, because he starts work at 8am. So I was just waiting for him when I heard the knock I thought it was him and then when I heard that it was the police looking for me. I thought he did something wrong. Then when I got the message I couldn't believe it."

Pantin has been served with a notice of intended prosecution:

Sr. Supt. Linden Flowers, OC, Police Precinct 4
"We have served Mr. Godwin Pantin, 52 years old with a notice of intended prosecution. He has since been detained and has been taken to the Karl Heusner Hospital for medical attention."

Daniel Ortiz
"Is there anything to suggest that the driver of the next vehicle Mr. Pantin was in the wrong?"

Sr. Supt. Linden Flowers, OC, Police Precinct 4
"The investigation is still ongoing. The wreckage on the scene has revealed some direction that the police is following up. Currently officers are at the Karl Heusner Hospital witnessing the post mortem that is ongoing and that we hope will assist us further in the investigation. Also we've gotten the motor vehicle inspectors to look at the vehicle keenly to see what has caused the accident. I believe that speeding was a factor in the collision."

All indications are at this time that the speeding may not have been from Villanueva's end. The car he was driving was having engine troubles.

Though, his wife also concede to us that he did have a penchant for going fast on motorcycles.

Adelina Cho - Common-law Wife of Deceased
"He loves speed, yes he does loves speed on motorcycle. I know he likes to do wheelie a lot, but when I talk to him about speed, he said he knows where to speed and he knows where not to speed. That's what he always tells me, because I tell him not to speed because we have a child and we need you around for him. That's what I always tell him."

Daniel Ortiz
"How old is your child and have you all been able to explain to him that daddy won't come home?"

Adelina Cho - Common-law Wife of Deceased
"Well it was hard, but I had to do it. He is just 6 years old. I just want find who knocked him down. I just want him to help me with his burial or with his son in any way they could. Because I haven't gotten the person's name and I don't know who he is. But if he could come forward I will greatly appreciate it."

Hamilton leaves behind a 6 year-old son along with his common-law, his parents, and other relatives.

The weekend's other accident in the city happened on Newtown Barracks near the Princess Ramada Hotel and Casino. A motorbike with a male driving it and the woman as his passenger slammed into the MCC fence. The female - a 42 year old - took the worse of it. She received spine and skull injuries, and was discharged from the KHMH.