1 week ago
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Patrick “Papi” Meighan was a familiar face to many in Belize City, well known, well loved, and remembered for his personality and the way he connected with those around him. Tonight, his death is being felt by many. Meighan was the victim of an accident on Saturday, following Carnival Road March. Reporter Zayna Augustine has the story.
Romario Meighan, Brother: “He was a person that had love, he had love for everybody. Everybody he goes he knows somebody, he goes to PG he knows somebody there. Anywhere in the country somebody will know him.”
Zayna Augustine, Love News: Patrick Mayne, known to many as “Papi” or “Skul”l, was well known in the Yabra community and beyond. He was remembered as the life of the party, someone who was well loved and whose presence left an impression on those around him. Love News was also joined by one of Patrick’s close friends who witnessed the tragedy firsthand. But the experience was clearly still too painful. He was too distraught to speak, choosing instead to remain with Patrick’s family as they remembered their loved one. Romario also spoke about the moments surrounding the tragedy and the efforts to get Patrick help.
Romario Meighan, Brother: “I just left Patrick the morning. I left him out here the Friday night when a truck was parked right at the lane to go to Juvert. He told me he was going to Juvert. I told him I’m not going to Juvert because I’m not going to Carnival either. I went in around two o’clock the morning, left him out here. When I woke up the man said he was going to bathe to go back by my sister in law. He was already bathed I saw him putting on his tennis and everything on the veranda. I nearly told him “Brother where are you going?” But I said let me leave him alone because him and I would have quarreled because he would have said “Nuh di worry about him.” So I said I would leave him. I went out and we were in the middle of the street by my vehicle dancing with his Yeti cup in his hand. I nearly told him “Bwai go sleep and relax.” But I said same thing him and I would have had a back and forth. When I got the phone call and thing and I went to the hospital my friend right there told me that he saw the man was trying to get on the trailer and he slipped and it looked like the truck ran over his hand and his foot. So that’s all they told us that it was just his hand and foot because when I reached there the doctor told me in like twenty minutes I could come see him. So I was outside waiting not knowing that would never have been that twenty minutes. It’s hard because I just buried my little cousin around four months ago. Two of them worked at that same lumber yard around the lane. If anybody wants to help they can always reach out, my number is 6251102. We will be out there every day.”
Zayna Augustine, Love News: The incident happened around 7:020 Saturday night during the Carnival Road March on Freetown Road. Police say 24-year-old Allan Tasher, a truck driver from Pomona Village, was operating a Peterbilt tractor truck with a 40 foot trailer when Patrick attempted to board it and fell. A witness saw Patrick bleeding on the roadway and attempted to get transportation to take him to the hospital. Police subsequently transported Patrick to the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital where he was pronounced dead shortly after he eight. The truck and trailer were taken to the Belize Port Authority compound for inspection. Tasher was served with a notice of intended prosecution, provided a urine sample, and was later detained pending further investigation. ASP Smith says police continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding Patrick’s death.
ASP Stacy Smith, Belize Police Department: “Police are investigating the death of 26-year-old Patrick Meighan, which occurred on Saturday 5th September shortly after 7:20pm. What the investigation has so far suggested is that Meighan had allegedly attempted to climb on board a trailer truck on Freetown Road and in the process of attempting to do so he reportedly fell and became unresponsive. He was transported to the hospital for medical attention however he was pronounced dead at around 8 o’clock p.m. No one has been charged so far. I spoke with commander traffic and he indicated that there was at least at this point in time there was no suggestion that he was struck by the vehicle however they are in the process of retrieving video footage which they believe would bring clarity to the investigation.”
Reporter: So you’re saying he was claiming up and fell down ?
ASP Stacy Smith, Belize Police Department: “Yes that’s the report that I received. I asked the commander traffic if there was any suggestion that he was struck by the vehicle, he said none so far. However it is being reviewed as I said. They are reviewing video footage or obtaining video footage to review to provide clarity. I also think the SitRep stated that the truck that he was driving was impounded for an inspection.”
Zayna Augustine, Love News: For those who knew and loved Patrick the circumstances of his death will never overshadow the memories of his life. They remember Papi the brother, the friend and the man who was loved by so many and those are the memories his family is choosing to hold on to. Zayna Augustine reporting for Love News.
The driver of the truck, Alden Tasher was detained, and had voluntarily given a urine sample. Charges, if any, are pending./
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