By Breaking Belize News Staff: Police are investigating whether a car parked partially in the path of oncoming traffic contributed to Saturday evening’s fatal collision between a National Bus Company bus and a Toyota Corolla on the Thomas Vincent Ramos Highway.
The accident, which occurred between Miles 37 and 38 near San Juan Village, claimed the lives of Sherri Mejia and four-year-old Taleenie Garbutt.
During Monday’s police press briefing, Assistant Superintendent Stacy Smith said investigators believe the car had stopped along the highway to allow a passenger to relieve themselves.
According to preliminary findings, the bus was travelling in the opposite direction when its driver apparently attempted to swerve to avoid the parked car but was unable to prevent the collision.
Smith said an examination of the scene and the vehicle suggested that the car had not been parked completely off the roadway and may have been partially obstructing the lane used by oncoming traffic.
Mejia died at the scene, while Taleenie later succumbed to her injuries while receiving medical treatment. Four other occupants of the car were injured.
According to public reports, Taleenie’s father, Walton Garbutt, sustained a broken foot and a knee injury requiring surgery.
Police have obtained a urine sample from the bus driver and served him with a notice of intended prosecution.
Investigations continue to determine the precise circumstances of the collision and whether traffic violations contributed to the deaths.
The post Police investigate whether improperly parked car contributed to fatal bus crash that killed Sherri Mejia and 4-year-old Taleenie Garbutt appeared first on Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com.