They Stopped to Help, but Never Made It Home

They stopped to remove a fallen tree and make the Hummingbird Highway safer for other motorists. Instead, that act of kindness ended in tragedy. Police say a truck struck Jaheed Lopez and Ervin Gutierrez as they cleared the roadway following Wednesday’s storm. Lopez died shortly after the crash, and Gutierrez has now also succumbed to his injuries. Assistant Commissioner of Police Hilberto Romero explains how the deadly collision unfolded.

 

ACP Hilberto Romero, Head, National Crime Investigation Branch

“On Wednesday police responded to a fatal road traffic accident between miles fifty-one and fifty-two on the Hummingbird Highway. Upon arrival, they saw a truck that was overturned on the highway. Also seen was – were four other vehicles that were damaged. Investigation revealed that the truck was being driven by a Melvin Chinchinilla was traveling towards Belmopan when it collided with the four vehicles, causing the truck to overturn. Two male persons were trapped under the truck. They were identified as Ervin Gutierrez and Jaheed Lopez. They were pronounced dead at the scene. An investigation is being carried out into this accident. Several statements have been recorded, measurements taken, urine sample and NIP served on the driver of the truck. And at the completion of the investigation, a case file will be submitted to the DPP for directive. The truck was traveling towards Belmopan when these vehicles were on the highway. They were clearing a tree that had fallen on the highway and the truck could not stop in time and they collide. He collided into the vehicles that were parked there.”

 

Attention readers: This online newscast is a direct transcript of our evening television broadcast. When speakers use Kriol, we have carefully rendered their words using a standard spelling system.

 

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