Serious Injuries After Mountain Pine Ridge Cycling Crash

And after celebrating the sisterhood and school spirit powering SCA’s award‑winning cheer squad, we turn now to a much different scene in Mountain Pine Ridge, where a high‑speed crash during a national team prep race left several of Belize’s top cyclists hospitalized, including veteran rider Roque Matus. Oscar Quiroz, Christopher Waight, Leon Leslie, Wendell Williams and Joslyn Chavarria Junior were all rushed to the hospital with serious rashes, bruises, and fractures. Two riders remain admitted: Roque Matus with five fractured ribs and Joslyn Chavarria Junior, who will be sidelined for two weeks with a fractured wrist and ankle. Doctors say Christopher Waight and Oscar Quiroz will also require MRI scans to assess their injuries. Veteran cyclist Roque Matus spoke with us from his hospital bed as he recovers from what he says is his worst of many falls in a long cycling career.

 

Roque Matus, Injured Cyclist

“I guess unu know we had a accident here in the Mountain Pineridge Road, one of the test race them this Sunday weh gone weh involve I’d say a major crash – probably about eight to ten of the cyclist them. I suffered five ribs broken and wa puncture lung so I still at the hospital right now weh they the drain the lung for me. But so far I took an x-ray yesterday and another one today and it’s looking a lot better. So hopefully I have a speedy recovery and I could get back to normal.”

 

Shane Williams

“What’s your recovery looking like is the doctor saying?”

 

Roque Matus

“Well, they say this kinda injuries you have to take your time and, you know, see how it go. It could be anywhere from eight to twelve weeks.”

 

Shane Williams

“And we know this, this is not your first fall, right? You, you, you fell before in the, the sport you love.”

 

Roque Matus

“Oh yeah. Yeah. But I think this are the worst one. I’d just want  tell everybody thanks for your concern and prayers. You know a lot of people have visited me here at the hospital. So I Definitely noh feel lonely. And I just want tell them thanks, you know, for all they concerns, they sympathy and so weh they have and their wishes for me to get well.”

 

Shane Williams

“Will we be seeing you back on the road?”

 

Roque Matus

“Oh, yes. I noh know to weh extent because, you know, with de ya thing you noh sure but I’ll just take it one day at a time for now.”

 

Tonight, as doctors monitor the injuries from that brutal downhill pile‑up, veteran cyclist Roque Matus says he’s focused on healing day by day, and he’s grateful for the prayers and support pushing him toward the road once again.