A devastating traffic collision on the T.V. Ramos Highway near Belize’s Cow Pen Village has claimed the lives of a 4-year-old child and her aunt, leaving a family grieving and law enforcement working to unpack the exact chain of events that led to Saturday night’s tragedy.
Four-year-old Taleeni Garbutt and 38-year-old Elaine Sherri Mejia were pronounced dead at the scene after a National Bus Company (NBC) public bus struck the parked Toyota Corolla they were riding in, which had pulled over on the unlit stretch of highway for a rest break as the group traveled from Independence Village toward Dangriga. News Five’s Shane Williams reported from the crash site on Sunday, as family members struggled to process their sudden loss.
Walton Garbutt Sr., Taleeni’s grandfather, spoke publicly about the chaotic hours after the crash, recalling how he first received word of the incident while staying in Belize City. “I got a call around 6:45 to 7:00 in the evening. My daughter-in-law was so confused and shaken that she couldn’t share any details beyond that there had been an accident and my granddaughter was with her,” he explained. Garbutt Sr. outlined a series of environmental and infrastructure factors that may have contributed to the crash, noting that the stretch of highway between San Juan and Independence Village has no street lighting at all, making the area extremely dark after nightfall. Heavy rain fell across the region over the weekend, and the long, straight stretch of road often encourages drivers to exceed the 55-mile-per-hour speed limit, he added.
“Buses are heavy vehicles that require more distance to stop,” Garbutt Sr. said. “I’m not placing blame on anyone, but it’s common knowledge that many buses travel well above the speed limit on that road. If a bus is moving fast through an unlit stretch and comes upon a parked car, the driver simply might not see it in time to avoid a collision.”
The blue Corolla was carrying six people: four adults and two children. While Taleeni and Mejia lost their lives, the other four passengers survived with varying degrees of injury. Alston Hopp, the car’s driver and Mejia’s husband, remains hospitalized. Walton Garbutt Jr., Taleeni’s father, is scheduled to undergo surgery for a broken left foot. Three-year-old Aveon Choc was discharged from Southern Regional Hospital on Monday but will require ongoing follow-up care with an orthopedic specialist. The fourth passenger, Risa Bol, escaped the crash without major injury.
NBC has issued an official statement extending its condolences to the families of the deceased, noting that the safety of all passengers, employees and road users is the company’s top priority. NBC also confirmed that it will cooperate fully with law enforcement throughout the investigation.
Assistant Superintendent of Police Stacy Smith shared details of the ongoing probe, confirming that the bus operator, 53-year-old Victor Ical of Medina Bank Village, has been served a notice of intended prosecution following the crash. A urine sample has already been collected from Ical for testing, per standard procedure. “The exact circumstances of the collision are still being pieced together,” Smith said. “The driver has been fully cooperative, and his account of what happened will be included in the official case file.”
As the family prepares to lay their loved ones to rest, Garbutt Sr. remembered his granddaughter as an exceptionally warm and affectionate young girl. “I have seven children, and I can’t remember a sweeter child than Taleeni,” he said. “Unlike many kids who shy away from strangers, she would walk right up to anyone with a smile. Losing her is devastating for our whole family, especially her parents.” The investigation into the crash remains active, with authorities expected to release a full report once all evidence has been collected and analyzed.