News 5 in Belize is reporting that a U.S. cruise passenger on an excursion in Belize was killed when the SUV in which she was riding was struck from behind by a 18-wheel truck.
The on-line newspaper states that the 18-wheeler was loaded with oranges and was traveling from the Hummingbird Citrus Limited Two farm on the George Price Highway. The woman cruise tourist along with another cruise passenger were on an excursion in a sports utility vehicle, driven by the excursion driver, heading to "Jaguar Paw" for a day trip.
The truck driver was interviewed by the newspaper. He says that he the SUV allegedly overtook his truck and then allegedly stopped on the highway. The driver claims that the SUV allegedly "parked" on the highway. He honked the truck’s horn for the SUV to move. He then tried to stop but the truck smashed into the SUV.
A witness says it took the ambulance an hour to get to the accident scene, leaving the cruise tourists remained trapped inside the small car. The cargo truck "ended belly up on the highway which was littered with the thousands of oranges it was transporting."
The tour guide was identified as Big John Taxi and Tour Company. A representative of the tour operator was quoted saying that the SUV was "heading towards Cave Tubing at Jaguar Paw at mile 37 and upon reaching at the junction, just before the junction, he was tail ended by an eighteen wheeler truck filled with oranges.”
Another account on 7 News Belize explains that the SUV was waiting to turn off the highway to Jaguar Pawn with his blinker on, when the tractor-trailer rig smashed into the SUV and dragged it down it the highway.
A television station in Belize also has an account of the accident. The news stations have released conflicting names of the deceased passenger.
Last year, cruise passengers in a tour van survived a head-on collision in Belize.
The highway in question is a major route taken by cruise passengers for cave diving excursions.
Photo Credit: Channel 5 Belize
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March 2 2015 Update: Belize 5 News reports that another 18 wheeler truck struck and killed another motorist at this general location on the same highway near the turn-off for Jaguar Paw where cruise passengers and tourists go on cave and tubing excursions. There are comments by an eye-witness who complains that there needs to be steps taken to slow down truckers a this location.
https://youtube.com/watch?v=zvGXuGCnNuE%3Frel%3D0