73-Year-Old Farmer Dies After Highway Collision Near Independence

A 73-year-old farmer died following a road traffic collision near the Independence dumpsite on Friday morning. The accident occurred shortly before eight o’clock between Miles 41 and 42 on the Thomas Vincent Ramos Highway.  Police responding to the scene found Luis Pou Senior of Bella Vista Village seriously injured near a damaged motorcycle. His common-law wife, 39-year-old Lucia Peck, who had been travelling as his passenger, was conscious but complained of pain across her body. Police say both appeared to have been wearing protective helmets.  A Ford F-150 pickup truck with damage to its right front corner and side mirror was also found at the scene. The vehicle was reportedly being driven by 52-year-old Punta Gorda lecturer Mathias Vairez.  Pou received medical attention but later died from his injuries. Police have not released further information on how the collision occurred. Vairez was served with a notice of intended prosecution and provided a urine sample as part of the ongoing investigation.