Boy, 8, Recovering After RTA; Mother Speaks to News 5

An eight-year-old boy from Hopkins, Stann Creek District, is recovering after being struck by a motorcycle while crossing the street with classmates on Tuesday afternoon. Karter Benedit, a Standard Two student at Holy Family RC Primary School, sustained serious head and leg injuries. He was rushed to the Southern Regional Hospital.

His mother, Dyny Martinez, described the terrifying moment she learnt of the accident. “His teacher called me and told me that Karter got hit… She told me that I should meet them at the health centre. When I went to the health centre… That’s when I saw his leg; his back muscles came out, so they had informed me that I would need to take him to the hospital in Dangriga because they would have to admit him,” she said.

“They did about 12 or 15 stitches on his head,” Martinez added. “Doctors told me that we were so fortunate that the white tissue didn’t get damaged, because if that had gotten damaged, he wouldn’t even be walking again.”

Karter sustained injuries to his head and back, with the biggest injury to his leg. Martinez confirmed the eight-year-old is expected to need at least two weeks to recover.

Martinez said a suspect is currently in custody.

She called for additional safety measures near schools. “I feel like the police need to tighten up on those who are driving cycle. Basically, I think that they need to do a bump as well in front of the school,” Martinez said.

Earlier this week, CEO Chester Williams stated that the Ministry of Transport is reviewing new measures to improve motorcycle training and enforcement, including additional traffic officers, body cams, dash cams, speed guns, and breathalysers, which will be deployed soon.