Motorcyclist Dies After Collision on Hummingbird Highway

A resident of southern Belize succumbed to injuries sustained in a road traffic incident on Friday evening.  The victim, 42-year-old, Walter Isaac Velis Gavarrete, died on Saturday, following the incident on the Hummingbird Highway between miles 2 and 3 in the Stann Creek District.  Gavarrete, who was driving a black SKYGO motorcycle, reportedly collided into the left side of a blue Jeep Patriot driven by Dallas Preston Self. The impact caused Gavarrete to lose control and run off the roadway, suffering serious injuries.  Investigations so far reveal that Self was traveling from Gulisi Primary School toward Sarawee Village and had turned left into a feeder road leading to the Cando Caribbean Dreams area when the collision occurred. Both Gavarrete and a passenger in the Jeep, Mamorie Self, were issued medico forms and taken for medical evaluation.  His brother, Javier Veliz, spoke to Love News on the ordeal.

Javier Veliz, Brother of Deceased: “My brother was taken to the hospital that same afternoon that was Friday. They refused to give us any type of information. The police officers that were with the guy that was in the Jeep refused for us to ask any questions. He was taken up to Belize. Well, according to them, he was taken to the medical center in Belmopan which we had to pay for a CT scan and an ultrasound. And they took him up to Belmopan and then he was supposed to be transported back to, I mean to the KHMH, but a few hours later my sister in law called saying that they were bringing him back to Dangriga. Now when they said that they were bringing him back to Dangriga, well we you know we were happy we said, well, if he’s coming back to Dangriga, that means he’s safe, you know, he’s doing good. It was not until the following morning on Saturday that a ambulance guy, I know the guy, the ambulance driver, told me that he was supposed to be taken to the KHMH but there was no space for him and that Belmopan rejected him because of one signature. And so they had to bring him back to Dangriga. He was really in a critical condition. They didn’t say anything. You know, they didn’t give us any type of information saying that he was doing bad. And so they had him in Dangriga just with drips and he had a fractured leg, he had a knock on his forehead and he had internal bleeding as well and they didn’t give us any type of information. They just had him there with drips. We’re thinking that he was doing well. And so it’s really sad, you know, that I guess a signature, a piece of paper is more important than a life here in this country. And so, you know, the system is really messed up.”

Gavarrete was a tractor driver for a citrus company and was described as being serious but a dedicated, family-oriented person. 

Javier Veliz, Brother of Deceased: “He loved us in his own kind of way. But what I can say about him is how we will remember him is that he was a family man. He loved his kids. He always had time for his kids. He’s living behind four kids, two girls and a set of twins. And sadly, his twins’ birthday was the same day he passed away. But he was definitely a family guy, a strong working person as well.”

Gavarrete was later transferred from the Southern Regional Hospital to the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital (KHMH) for further treatment. However, police were later informed that he succumbed to his injuries at 12:07 p.m. on Saturday.  Police have detained Dallas Preston Self after he reportedly refused to provide a urine specimen requested as part of the ongoing investigation.