Last night's news was all about the high profile traffic accident where the UDP's Alfonso Noble knocked down and killed Gilbert Meyers on Christmas Day. Well tonight, the news is of another fatal traffic accident.
In this case, the tragic loss is compounded because the victim, 38 year-old Josue Alfaro just married his new wife on Christmas Eve. He was home to spend the holidays, which should have been their honeymoon. But instead, he died yesterday - which also happened to be his new wife's birthday.
We had a few late breaking details last night, and tonight we have a more complete story for you. Daniel Ortiz reports:
Daniel Ortiz reporting
This red pickup used to belong to Josue Alfaro, a 38 year-old Sandhill resident. Its mangled remains show the massive collision he had last night with a Macfadzean bus.
The front portion of the pickup was completely crushed, a clear indication that he died at the moment of the head-on impact, or shortly thereafter.
ASP Juanito Cocom - Deputy OC, Rural Eastern Division
"Alex Lee McFadzean, 25 year-old Belizean bus driver at Saint Paul's Bank, Belize District, reported that he was travelling from the direction of Belize City, heading towards St. Paul's Bank. Upon reaching between miles 11 and 12 on the Philip Goldson Highway, a red Ford pickup truck was travelling in the opposite direction and collided into the left front portion of the bus he was driving. At the time of the incident, there were 25 to 30 passengers on the bus, however, they only received minor injuries. The scene was processed, sketch plan drawn, measurements taken, and the body of the deceased was transported to the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital morgue, where it was pronounced dead on arrival. Alex McFadzean was detained, pending investigations, and a urine sample have already been obtained, and a notice of intended prosecution was served on him already"
His new wife came to inspect the vehicle for herself, and her pain is immense. They only got married 5 days ago on Christmas Eve. Yesterday, when Alfaro passed away, she was celebrating her birthday. He is also the third partner she has buried, and her first boyfriend also died in a traffic accident.
The entire family is in the throes of grief.
Bridget Alfaro - Sister of Deceased
"It's hard to describe. It's hard to say how it feels. I never did in my life imagine - never once thought that I would be going through this for the Holidays, for the Christmas, losing my big brother. It's rough on the family, on ours and his wife's family, both sides. It's rough. My mom is not taking it too well, and so are my sisters, and my brothers. His wife, as well, everyone, but we're trying to stick in there. We have kids, all of us. He has a son. It's harder, his only child. He just recently got married for the Christmas. Everybody was so excited, so happy, and now for this to happen, it's devastating."
It was his wife's birthday. I understand that he was coming home to her, and unfortunately. He didn't make it. He was heading home to have a nice - great time with his wife, and his son."
Daniel Ortiz, 7News
"What does he do ordinarily?"
Bridget Alfaro
"He's travelling in and out from the US, brings in the vehicles, pulling vehicles. He comes in and out, so he's always on the road. So, he spends a lot of time on the road. And, I guess he was looking forward to spending this holiday with his family, and spending it with us, and we were very happy to have him here."
Police say that after interviewing passengers on the bus, they have what they believe is the cause of the accident.
ACP Edward Broaster - OC, Rural Eastern Division
"All indications at this time are pointing to the fact that Mr. Alfaro was overtaking another vehicle when he collided into the bus."
Alindy Marisol Amaya - KREM News
"So, the taking of the urine sample is just standard?"
ACP Edward Broaster
"It's just the standard procedure for us to ensure that the other driver was not impaired."
His family notes however, that they knew him to be a careful driver who didn't take unnecessary risks.
Daniel Ortiz, 7News
"What do you know of his driving habits? Was he very careful on the road?"
Bridget Alfaro
"Once he had had his son with him, he was always careful on the road. He travels a lot, and he has travelled on rougher roads than here. Once he has the baby with him, he's always careful. He's always cautious. I can't say how he was driving, or what; I don't. I know that he was cautious."
"He was an awesome outgoing person. He doesn't need an introduction. Whenever he walks in the room, he introduces himself. He doesn't need an introduction. He's loud, outgoing, and he was always - he is a great person, a great brother, a great son to my mom, and he was an awesome father. His son was his number 1."
As noted in our story, Alfaro was a car dealer who regularly drives vehicles down from the States. We're told that he's better known from his days an employee of Bowen and Bowen, his former workplace which he left 2 years ago.
He leaves behind an 8 month-old son with his new wife.
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