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One Weekend, One Dangerous Bridge, Three Accidents, Four Dead
posted (November 21, 2017)
Four men died in two fatal accidents weekend - and both of those accidents happened on the same bad bridge between miles 31 and 32 on the Hummingbird Highway.

It's known as the St. Margaret's Bridge - and it's a single lane span across a creek. What makes it dangerous is that - apart from being narrow, it's on a downhill, and then it has no railings, plus it's on a dark stretch of road.

All those factors - plus lack of safety measures - combined this weekend two create two fatal accidents: one of them a triple fatality. Courtney Weatherburne has the story:..

Courtney Weatherburne, reporter
"The Hummingbird Highway was heavily trafficked this weekend. Family and friends from all over the country heading down south for the 19th celebrations. But of all the festivities, there was tragedy. There were 3 accidents at the St. Margaret's Bridge in just 36 hours - about 4 lives lost. It is grisly memory now in engraved at this bridge."

Courtney Weatherburne reporting
Gasps of horror captured in this amateur video after the triple wreckage at St. Margret's Bridge.

The first happened on Saturday night around 10:00. 36 year old Glenn Reneau was driving his grey Honda Accord to Dangriga along with two friends - Glendale Ramos and Maria Ramirez. But Ramos who was in the front seat guiding Reneau along the way, got a call from his dad. Apparently Reneau got distracted and lost sight of the road.

Lindall Sanchez, Mother
"He was guiding Glen along the way, but at the same time his dad call him, wanted to know how far they were."

Courtney Weatherburne, reporter
"Ramos' dad?"

Lindall Sanchez, Mother
"Yes, Ramos daddy called him. So he was talking to his dad and right there everything haywire, everything. That's when my son conscious he was in danger and my son yelled for him. He says "Ramos" and that's it. That was too late. That was the end of him."

They plunged into the creek. Reneau was killed while his friends survived. Ramirez was injured in her left foot while Ramos was injured to his right hand. It is a tragic end for a man who his mom says was cherished by many.

Lindall Sanchez, Mother
"Nice young man, very nice. He knows to steal everybody hearts. Everybody that knows him, he steals their hearts."

The family of Harold Smith and Keith Frazer also have nothing but fond memories of their loved ones. Smith was driving the Toyota Camry at the time. Frazer along with Marlon Flowers were in the passenger's seat. They were heading back to Belmopan on Sunday afternoon. Information is that Smith lost control of his Toyota Camry and plunged into the creek. All 3 of them died. A family member who was in a separate vehicle driving in front of them had no idea what had happened until he got back his Burrell Boom home.

Kareem Myvett, Relative
"He was always talking about the 19th. He always wanted to go. He wants to make sure everybody reached there. That's all he's been talking about and my friend came in from Chicago, so that's the only reason I wasn't in the vehicle. We left right before the celebrations and the festivities. We were just saying we wanted to stay, but like they say when death is calling, we are just ready to go."

Courtney Weatherburne, reporter
"You were alone in your vehicles right?"

Kareem Myvett, Relative
"I had 4 people in my vehicle as well, so It was nowhere for us to call. Usually whose going - everybody get together in one vehicle and go, but it just didn't happen like that this time."

Courtney Weatherburne, reporter
"So you all decided to leave together Sunday afternoon, you left in your vehicle with your passengers and then Harold and Keith as well?"

Kareem Myvett, Relative
"He told me go ahead, like he knew, like 'nephew you can't see this, just go ahead, just go ahead.' I'll never forget that face. Like I said cherish your loved ones and for the record, nobody was drunk. This is not a drinking and driving affair, Albert Smith "04" everybody knows he is not a drink man. He would go in the car and go to sleep before entering a club."

And not much information is known about another accident that happened on Friday but again it was right near the St. Margret's Bridge. Although these families are grieving their loved ones, they along with residents are demanding that the government implement better road safety measure to minimize these fatalities.

Ashley, Relative
"I just like to petition the government or the Ministry of Works, to please try to do something about that and all these little old time bridge, especially like when you go through that. We are in a day and age where they can get enhance, where people can slow down before these bridge. I don't care if you have to put those rigged speed bumps a mile before you hit it, so that everybody is at least to a certain speed by the time they get there."

Voice of: Villager
"It is bad, they have to fix this bridge because it is dangerous, there has been a lot of accidents."

36 year old Glenn Reneau leaves behind 2 children. Reneau's mother says this was his first time attending 19th celebrations. Regarding Sunday afternoon's accident - 37 year old Harold Smith also known as "O4" leaves behind 3 kids and Keith Alonso Frazier leaves behind 2 kids.

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