Three young men from Yo Creek Village in Orange Walk lost their lives in a terrible traffic accident on Saturday night. It happened at about 8:30 on the Yo Creek Road, when neighbors 22-year-old Minor Hernandez, 26-year-old Jason Gongora, and 22 year old Giovani Gongora crashed into a Tillett bus. They were in a pickup heading to Orange Walk from their village when they collided head on into bus which was going to Yo Creek. The massive impact crushed the pickup, and killed three of them on the spot. Alex Courtenay reports.
Alex Courtenay reporting
This was the gruesome scene that motorists travelling along the Orange Walk and Yo Creek road witnessed on Saturday night. A twisted metal coffin of three young men. By the time they arrived on the scene near Cuello's distillery, there was nothing the police or emergency personnel could do.
Inspector Jose Mendez, Orange Walk Police
"On Saturday sometime around 9 pm. Orange Walk police received a call of a fatal traffic accident on the Yo Creek Road where they responded and upon arrival they saw a Tillet's passenger bus bearing license plate number OW -D4660 and a Ford-F50 pickup with license plate number OW-C08001. Both vehicles were extensively damaged."
The Tillet bus driver and one of the passengers were injured in the accident, but did not receive life threatening wounds. The passengers of the pick-up were not so fortunate…
Inspector Jose Mendez, Orange Walk Police
"There were 3 occupants in the F-50 pickup truck trapped inside the vehicle with multiple serious head and body injuries apparently dead. The 3 occupants were later identified of that of 22 year old Minor Hernandez, 26 year old Jason Gongora, and 22 year old Giovanni Gongora."
All three victims grew up with each other- the Gongora boys were cousins. Their deaths have left their families devastated and trying to hang on to the memories of their loved ones.
Rudolph Hernandez - Father of Minor Hernandez
"My son used to be a nice person. He's a respectable person, hard working person, very responsible. he used to work many years with a company AJ Electrician and the problem with him is that he has his friends like everyone else, but many times I would tell him Minor pick your friends. Anyone who offered liquor is not a friend. That morning I talked to him, I told him I going to play in Santa Clara, but son don't come out because every Saturday when you get paid you come out with your friends. Yes, you don't come drunk but when you come I smell liquor."
And though they are in mourning, the victims' families had a message for the people of Belize.
Vivian Gongora - Father of Giovanni
"Thank God that He is giving us the strength to all those families that lost their loved one. At this moment all of us are feeling the pain. I am asking for a plea to the nation to make everyone look to God, so all of these things don't keep happening in the country of Belize. Those are my words."
Police had a message of their own, urging the residents of Orange Walk to keep safe during the holidays.
Inspector Jose Mendez, Orange Walk Police
"Especially in this season we advise drivers to be more precautious take caution on that road, speeding, presently we have the police present on weekends on that highway that covers from San Felipe to Orange Walk but still we encourage them and advise them if they drink don't drive and if they drive don't drink and maintain within the speed limit."
Police are waiting toxicology reports and blood samples to determine if alcohol was a factor. So far, they have not even been able to confirm who was driving the pickup, because of its mangled state.
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