A fatal traffic collision that claimed the life of a young local fisherman in Orange Walk Town has prompted an ongoing official investigation, with prosecutors set to make the final call on whether criminal charges will be filed against the van driver involved in the crash.
The victim has been identified as 25-year-old Lorenzo Castro, a resident of Guinea Grass Village. The incident unfolded on the evening of Thursday, September 10, 2026, at the high-traffic intersection of Muñoz Street and Otro Benque Road, according to senior law enforcement officials.
Assistant Commissioner of Police Hilberto Romero, who leads the National Crimes Investigation Branch, outlined the preliminary findings of the police probe. At the time of the crash, Castro was operating his motorcycle through the intersection when the vehicle collided with a white van driven by 61-year-old Antonio Novelo. Initial investigative work indicates the collision took place as Novelo’s van was in the process of changing lanes.
Emergency responders rushed the injured motorcyclist to a local medical facility for urgent care, but Castro ultimately died from the traumatic injuries he sustained in the impact. Romero confirmed a key detail that will factor into the prosecution’s decision: Castro did not hold a valid motorcycle license, nor did he carry active insurance for the vehicle.
As part of standard procedure for fatal road incidents, investigators served a Notice of Intended Prosecution (NIP) to Novelo following the collision. Authorities also collected a urine sample from the van driver to test for potential impairment, a standard step to rule out drug or alcohol use as contributing factors.
Police are currently finalizing their full investigative file, which will be submitted in the coming days to the office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP). Once received, senior DPP officials will review all evidence, witness statements, and toxicology results before issuing a formal directive on whether any charges will be brought against Novelo in connection with Castro’s death.