Teen Cyclist Killed in Highway Crash With Floralia Bus

Terrel Caleb Cardinez will not get to graduate high school, nor will he get to pursue a career and family.  The 16-year-old was knocked down this morning at around ten thirty as he rode his bicycle on the George Price Highway in Hattieville, Belize District.  The Gwen Lizarraga High School student was only one week into his summer break when a Floralia Bus heading to Belize City, knocked him off his bicycle between miles sixteen and seventeen. According to preliminary reports, Cardinez had veered left into the highway when he was hit.  As police pursue its investigation into this fatal RTI, the family of the victim is reeling, hoping that somehow this is just a bad dream.  Unfortunately, it’s not a dream, and the teen’s mom, Marilee Cardinez, will have to forge on with only the memories of her son.  Love News met up with the mother at the morgue shortly after the incident.

Marilee Cardinez, Mother: “I just got a phone call and said how my son got knocked down. When I went there I met him on the ground cold. Those bus drivers that like to drive crazy on this road and not pay attention to those people and put those passengers at risk they should be diligent and think about people’s lives. You know how many people’s lives they put in danger every day overtaking ? Driving like they’re crazy and not paying attention ? My son was a loving person. They just took my son from me. You know how many people loved my son ? He was the loveliest, sweetest person that you could meet. Everybody that knows my son knew my son was a respectable and loving person. Everybody that met him loved him. I went to see my son I didn’t even know it was my son. You know what it is for a mother to go identify their children ? Their child that they’re fighting for ? Hold in their belly for nine months and still fighting for them just for them to take away his life like that ? That is hurt. My heart is broken but I have to be strong for my other two kids I have home. But I serve a living God and a true God. God says I have to forgive so I forgive the person that knocked down my baby.”

The bus driver, 20-year-old Yordi Salazar, has since been served with a notice of intended prosecution.  Interestingly, Assistant Superintendent of Police Stacy Smith, noted that no specimen was taken from the bus driver.  

Stacy Smith, Assistant Superintendent of Police: “Police have issued a notice of intended prosecution to Jordi Salazar, the driver of a Yutong bus belonging to Floralia Bus Company that was involved in a fatal traffic accident which claimed the life of 16-year-old Terrell Caleb Cardinez, a Belize student of Hattieville Village, Belize District. The accident occurred at approximately 10:30 a.m. today, 19 June, 2025 between miles 16 and 17 on the George Price Highway. Initial investigation revealed that Cardinez was riding a bicycle from the direction of Hattieville to Belize City, and it is alleged that he abruptly made a left turn onto the highway into the path of the bus that was traveling to Belize City when the fatal collision occurred. Police investigation continues. The police have recorded several witness statements in relation to this incident.”

Up to the news tonight, the Floralia Bus Company was yet to issue a statement on the incident.