Two families are mourning tonight after a deadly highway collision claimed the lives of a couple travelling on a motorcycle. Thirty-two-year-old Joseph Williams and forty-two-year-old Sherlene Rodriguez collided with a BMW driven by twenty-two-year-old Pedro Espat on the Philip Goldson Highway Wednesday morning. Williams was pronounced dead on arrival at the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital, while Rodriguez later died from her injuries during treatment. As their loved ones struggle with the sudden loss, both families are urging motorists to slow down, stay alert and help prevent another tragedy on Belize’s roads. News Five’s Britney Gordon reports.
Britney Gordon, Reporting
A motorcycle crash on the Philip Goldson Highway ended a couple’s three-year relationship in tragedy Wednesday morning. Joseph Williams and Sherlene Rodriguez were heading to Belize City when they crashed near Mile Five. Williams’s aunt, Joy Francisco, says the sudden loss has left the family devastated.
Joy Francisco
Joy Francisco, Aunt of Deceased
“I wake up blessed and I pray and by the end of the day I get a news like that. I always see news like that but this one ya really hurt me and it hit home to me as the family members because Joseph da never mi a troublesome person.”
The family says the couple had recently bought the motorcycle and was heading to Belize City to purchase vehicle parts. Francisco maintains that her nephew was a careful driver.
Joy Francisco
“Fi my nephew gone like that, somebody have to be at fault. Jospeh da no wa fast driver so all I want tell te driver, have some respect for the people ney on motorcycle as well. And be careful pan di road because I have this pain fo my nephew, that could have the same pain too. That could have the same pain. Now my sister, fi she pressure gone up. She gone lay down. She can’t cope with it. That da her only son.”
The police investigation continues, leaving the grieving families unable to see their loved ones. Rodriguez’s aunt, Faith Flores, raised her from birth and says the news of her death shattered the family.
Faith Flores
Faith Flores, Aunt of Deceased
“I was looking at Facebook, and I see this accident from early. But I wouldn’t think that da my niece so I said like this, hey wa accident happened again that lead there in. It said flash news, but yet still no name called I sit down in there. I sit in there. I sit in there. When three something, they call me and tell me, my niece call me from Dangriga. She say, Auntie? I say, yes? She say, Tiny dead. I said, no. I said, no Tiny no dead.”
As the family mourned Williams’s death, thieves reportedly burglarized his home that same night. His sister, Jasmine Cadle, says he did not deserve such a tragic end and remembers him as a joyful spirit and loving uncle.
On the Phone: Jasmine Cadle, Sister of Deceased
“My kids as well is his kids. Because he no have none so whenever I deh inna wa depression mode or if I need help I seh breda, cuz that da my one and only breda. I seh breda, yo sister di go through wa lot. He da like sis no worry send ney fi me.”
Flores explained that her niece, born a twin, was a happy surprise. After the two sisters were safely delivered, they were nicknamed “Biggy and Tiny.” Faith was lovingly called Tiny.
Faith Flores
“Half an hour after the big one born, my sister call ah and scream out and she moms I feel a pain inna my chest. I feel a pain like something di run down. So I run for the nurse and when the nurse check ah, da wa next lee baby.”
Police say the driver of the BMW, twenty-two-year-old Pedro Espat, provided a urine sample for alcohol testing and was served with a Notice of Intended Prosecution as investigations continue. Britney Gordon for News Five.
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