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Two Dangriga Teenagers Die In Traffic Accident
posted (April 3, 2017)
Tonight all of Dangriga is shocked and grieving after two teenaged residents lost their life and a dozen others were injured in a terrible accident that happened yesterday. It's one of the worst accidents we've seen and that's because 14 people, including 7 teenagers and an 8 year old were crammed into a tiny pickup.

Jules Vasquez has the story from the Placencia Road:

Jules Vasquez reporting
This is the sweeping curve at mile 4 on the Placencia Road where Sandra Martinez's Ford Ranger careened off the highway and flipped down the embankment. Problem is the 24-year-old driver had 13 passengers, more than capacity for this two-door Ford Ranger. Reports say that she was speeding around the corner and simply lost control. As many as 10 of the passengers may have been in the bed of the pickup, and they were flung all across the shoulder of the highway.

William Tut - First Responder
"I only see the big scene with all a the crowd at the people lying down pan the road, pan the edge of the grass, and the vehicle parked with wah young lady hanging outside ah it; everybody knock out. We got bout 5 or 6 persons throw weh, lying down ova deh, about 20 vehicles behind that side mih got wah next 3 injured bad. Right ya weh pat we deh right now wah young lady mih deh pan the ground all bruk up. Foot bruk up and e hand; she can't move, just the grasp for air as well."

Jules Vasquez - Reporter
"And you had someone hanging out the vehicle as well?"

William Tut - First Responder
"Yes we had one hanging out the side glass, yes, out through the side glass, and we just managed to haul her in and sit a right inna the vehicle."

Jules Vasquez - Reporter
"Did you see the young man who died right at the scene?"

William Tut- First Responder
"Yes, we see ah. He mih deh amongst wah crowd a 5 persons, mih dih lie down right deh and couldn't move; just mih the move and grasp for air."

That young man is 14 year old Warisi Flores, a standard six student who had left home saying he was going to help his friend set up a birthday party:

Brian Cullerton - Stepfather of Warisi Flores
"He had left in the morning for a birthday party with a friend here in town. There was some indication that he and his friend and mother would be going toâ€Â¦would be picking something up in Seine Bight related to that."

It was a crowd of 14 persons, between the ages of 8 and 27 years old, jammed into the pickup.

Brian Cullerton- Stepfather of Warisi Flores
"To hear that it involved a pickup with 14 people in it was more than either of us could handle because that's not the way we transport our children or their friends and we're just socked."

Shocked and grieving deeply because this teenager was preparing for the next phase in his life:

Brian Cullerton- Stepfather of Warisi Flores
"Warisi was an exception child, very much into animals, very much a people person, had a pony that he kept here, was always working on bicycles or motorized things and wanted to become a mechanic; he was looking forward to PSE today."

That pain is deeply felt at Solid Rock Christian academy where he was in Standard 6.

Shannon Martinez- Principal, Solid Rock Christian Academy
"Warisi a student of this school, very helpful very happy, especially the last few days; the teachers recalled him sharing jokes running from here to the basketball court, excited for some reason but he was very happy these past few days."

Today thought the school campus was sullen and inviting prayers to get his classmates through day one of the PSE.

Shannon Martinez- Principal, Solid Rock Christian Academy
"Since morning most of us have been crying and trying to cope. When we took the students for the PSE this morning everyone was crying. Dr. Nuñez go the counselor from Ecumenical to speak to them before the exam and that settled them somewhat, and about 3 of us teachers went there to be with them at the beginning and try to settle them down before the exam actually started."

And it's not just Warisi, two other students, including the driver's 8-year-old son were injured in the accident.

Shannon Martinez- Principal, Solid Rock Christian Academy
"Yes we had one from standard 2, his mom was driving, he's ok, he only got an injury to the foot; the other one is still in the emergency, we are planning to go look for him in a few minutes to look for him- they said he is ok. Here in the compound, it's very solemn, it's very sad, most teachers are crying since morning and we try to explain to the students the best way we can of what happened."

For 18-year-old Deshawn Taylor, there's no explanation to satisfy her father. He plain didn't want her to go out on Sunday.

Robert Taylor- Father of Deshawn Taylor
"Ih come da my room four time ah watch me and come out, ih come again, ih come again, when ih gwen, I watcha gwen with wah lee bag but I couldn't believe da outa town ih gwen, cause I gwen stop ah if dah outa town ih gwen. Cause atta I tell dem da lent, no tek no chance cause the devil very busy; when I mean busy ih busy."

The next he heard about his daughter she was at the Southern Regional Hospital taking her last breathes.

Robert Taylor- Father of Deshawn Taylor
"I gone inna de room so di nurse seh ih dih fight hard fu save ih life. Ih seh, ih come to life two times and the third time ih neva did come back."

He blames bad influences.

Robert Taylor- Father of Deshawn Taylor
"Da min neighba, she da di one; anytime she come hea and mih chase ah caz I tella: you da devil pikni gial, go, go, no come and lef Deshawn lone. But I don't know weh ih got ova dem. Anytime she call ah, ih have to go; see weh ih kerry a to."

And now this father and stepfather shared their advice.

Brian Cullerton - Stepfather of Warisi Flores
"You know none of us know when our time will come and it's such a shock when it happens this way."

Robert Taylor- Father of Deshawn Taylor
"Stay home, stay home; if you no got somebody weh you confident inna e driving, stay home- that da it, stay home."

Brian Cullerton- Stepfather of Warisi Flores
"But riding in the pan of a vehicle is so risky that, I know often we don't have enough vehicles available and everybody needs to make that judgment but you know, our plea would be that the parents and the young people that are watching to be aware of how sudden and how fragile life can be."

Here are the names of all persons who were injured in the accident:

  • 8 year old student ALONZO RODRIGUEZ 8yrs,
  • 15 YEAR OLD student JONATHAN FRAZER 15yrs
  • 16 year old student AISHA RAMIREZ 16yrs,
  • 16 year old student SHEIQUE RDORIGUEZ ERVIN SANTOS
  • 17 year old VICTORIA SABAL
  • 18 year old DESHAWN TAYLOR
  • 18 year old Ervin Santos.
  • 19 year old TIMARA RODRIGUEZ
  • 20 year old MISTY POWELL,
  • 20 year old student DARRIGNTON AUGUSTINE 20yrs,
  • 22 year old student TIFFANY RODRIGUEZ
  • And
  • 27 year old GUILLERMO MARTINEZ.
They all received varying degrees of injuries.

Ervin Santos was transported to Karl Huesner Memorial Hospital suffering from head and body injuries. Misty Powell, Guillermo Martinez, Aisha Ramirez and Ervin Santos were transported to KHMH in serious condition. Timara and Shanique Rodriguez were treated and released from the Southern Regional Hospital with minor injuries.

Police say injuries received by Timara Rodriguez, and Shanique Rodriguez are yet to be ascertained.

And of course, the two victims are 14 year old Waresi Flores and 18 year old Deshawn Taylor. Police are investigating driver 24 year old Sandra Martinez who also received injuries.

The Dangriqa Town council will have a Candle light procession and vigil on Wednesday at 6:00.

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