Three lives were lost in a heartbreaking traffic accident Sunday night in the Orange Walk District. The victims, residents of San Felipe and August Pine Ridge, were traveling in a red Ford F 150 when their pickup collided with a sugar cane truck just outside August Pine Ridge Village. A woman and her two young children who were also in the vehicle survived the crash. This tragic incident has left an entire community in mourning. News Five’s Paul Lopez has the details.
Paul Lopez, Reporting
A family outing ended in tragedy Sunday night when a red-F-150 pickup truck carrying several San Felipe residents crashed into a truck loaded with sugar cane just outside August Pine Ridge Village The impact of the crash was devastating. The pickup truck suffered severe damage, particularly on the driver’s side, where more than half of the roof was torn back. Pieces of the sugar cane truck still sit along the side of the highway, a stark reminder of the force of the collision. Authorities have identified the victims as thirty-five-year-old Byron Magaña, his partner Sherlin Henriquez, and twenty-nine-year-old Selvin Cortez.
Stacy Smith
ASP Stacy Smith, Staff Officer
“The officers responded where they learnt the vehicle involved in the accident was an F-150 pickup truck and a freightliner truck which was towing two wooden trailers that contained sugar cane. Preliminary investigation indicated the vehicles were traveling in different directions when the pickup truck in which the deceased persons were travelling is alleged to have collided into the left front portion of one of the trailers. The impact caused the pickup truck to lose control and careen resulting in the death of the three occupants.”
Cortez’s wife and their two young children survived the crash but suffered injuries and remain hospitalized. Authorities initially withheld the news of Cortez’s death from his wife because of a serious head injury. Cortez, along with Byron Magaña and Sherlin Henriquez, who were seated in the back of the pickup, did not survive. News Five spoke with Magaña’s father.
Polo Magana
Polo Magana, Father of Deceased
“They always use to go weekends to spend weekends somewhere else. Sometimes they gone next side, I don’t know where, but Mexican side. Sometimes they gone to Corozal like this weekend. And but still, they told us where they go, but we never know about that accident. I cant believe it, I can’t believe it, I can’t believe that is happening to me. My good young son, very, very good.”
Magana and his partner Sherlin Henriquez were together for the past year. They resided on his father’s property. Selvin Cortez lived just a couple blocks down from Magana. They were friends and co-workers. Both men were employed as drivers with Tillett’s Bus Service. Cortez’s nephew, seventeen-year-old Christopher Cruz, recounted the moment he heard about the accident.
Voice Of: Christopher Cruz, Nephew of Deceased
Voice Of: Christopher Cruz, Nephew of Deceased
“It was so bad, because I was in my room, about to sleep and they just come and told me, your uncle had an accident but I didn’t imagine it was like that. When I reached there I just saw the vehicle and I started crying. My dad was going to where was the accident and when I reached there I started crying. I wanted to see him, but they had already left.”
For Cruz, the loss of his uncle cuts deep. He recently approached his uncle for assistance to purchase a motorcycle for him to start a welding business, and without hesitation, Cortez gave Cruz the money he needed.
Voice of: Christopher Cruz
“He was a good person. Whenever I wanted a favor he was always there for me. He helped me buy my bike. When I asked him he said, yes. He never said, no.”
Tonight, three families and an entire community are in deep mourning. The accident sent shockwaves through the community. Surrounded by family and memories, Byron Magaña’s father is still grappling with the loss of his son.
Polo Magana
“I don’t know exactly what happened, how they were coming, if they were drinking, what happened, I don’t know. I will really miss them. He and his wife. His wife was a very good person too.”
As investigations continue, the families are left mourning three lives lost too soon, while two children and their mother begin a long road to recovery. Reporting for News Five, I’m Paul Lopez.
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