By Aaron Humes: A fatal road traffic accident late Wednesday night left 38-year-old tour guide Dean Martin Perez dead. The incident occurred around midnight on the George Price Highway near Mile 18 when Perez’s vehicle collided with a house being transported by a flatbed trailer.
According to police reports, Perez was traveling east towards Belize City when he struck the oversized Mennonite house, which spanned the breadth of the highway, offering him little chance to avoid the accident. The collision resulted in extensive damage to Perez’s grey Chevy Trail SUV, leaving him trapped inside and motionless. Despite the quick response of emergency services, he was pronounced dead at the scene due to fatal injuries.
Initial investigations revealed that the trailer, driven by 25-year-old Zinadine Hernandez, was transporting a 22-foot by 40-foot house from Shipyard, Orange Walk District, to Dangriga, Stann Creek District. Witnesses indicated that Hernandez observed Perez’s SUV approaching at a high speed and reportedly driving with bright high beams when the collision occurred. The SUV struck the front left corner of the house and veered off the road, landing in a nearby ditch.
A Notice of Intended Prosecution has been issued to Hernandez as the police continue their investigation into the circumstances surrounding the tragic incident.
Meanwhile, allegations have been made that the house-moving operation has revealed serious regulatory violations. The Mennonite company involved failed to adhere to necessary house-moving laws, including transporting such oversized structures without a police or Department of Transport (DoT) escort, which is required by law. While a personal vehicle was positioned ahead of the trailer, it was allegedly not adequately marking the route or indicating to oncoming traffic, which ultimately contributed to the tragedy.
Despite a recent change in legal provisions restricting house transport at night between 9 PM and 5 AM, many are concerned that certain companies may be disregarding these laws to minimize operational costs at the expense of public safety. It is further alleged that the trailer transporting the house was uninsured and had a malfunctioning rear left light.
Further updates are expected as investigators work to shed light on the details surrounding this tragic accident, the second in similar circumstances after the death of Pastor Julian Bol three weeks ago.
The post Collision claims life of tour guide Dean Perez on George Price Highway; house movers alleged to be in violation appeared first on Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com.
By Aaron Humes: A fatal road traffic accident late Wednesday night left 38-year-old tour guide Dean Martin Perez dead. The incident occurred around midnight on the George Price Highway near Mile 18 when Perez’s vehicle collided with a house being transported by a flatbed trailer. According to police reports, Perez was traveling east towards Belize
The post Collision claims life of tour guide Dean Perez on George Price Highway; house movers alleged to be in violation appeared first on Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com.
