House Mover Says Fatal Crash Raises Industry Safety Concerns

The fatal accident that killed Police Sergeant Jovanni Ponce on Saturday night, October 10, has raised concerns within Belize’s house-moving industry. Ponce died after his SUV collided with a house being transported along the George Price Highway between Miles 42 and 43 near Cotton Tree Village.

Ronny Plett, of Plett’s Home Builders, said the loss of life was devastating for the industry, noting that the incident could have involved any member of the house movers’ group or their family.

“The most troubling part about this incident is obviously that a life was lost,” Plett said. “Any type of incident is terrible, but to lose a life in the process of moving a house is absolutely devastating to the whole group.”

Plett said the investigation would have to determine whether the operator met the required safety standards. However, based on photographs from the scene and reports from motorists, he said the operator may not have been fully compliant.

“From the pictures we saw on the scene and from some reports that we received of some travellers on the road, it did sound like this mover probably was not fully compliant to the regulations that are currently in place,” Plett said.

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Plett said the operator was not part of the house movers’ group, which he said wants to bring all operators in Belize together to improve safety standards across the industry.

“We would love to include all the movers in Belize into the group so that we can hopefully bring everyone up the same safety standards,” Plett said.

He also said house movers generally try to avoid transporting houses on weekends because of heavier traffic and the risks posed by tired or impaired motorists.

Plett said house movers had discussed safety improvements with the Transport Department in February, including additional lighting on escort vehicles and the houses being transported.

“We came up with a very good plan requiring both amber and white… amber and white flashing lights on the moving vehicle and on all four corners of the house, meaning front and back as well as bright white spotlights to light up the whole front of the house,” Plett said.