Businesswoman Killed in Tragic Collision on George Price Highway: Drunk Driving Suspected

A businesswoman was killed last night in a collision on the George Price Highway, reportedly at the hands of a drunk driver. Just after eight o’clock, a grey Kia Soul with three passengers overturned near miles 25 and 26. The collision injured the driver, 49-year-old Kelvin Reneau, 22-year-old Aaliyah Torres, and Aisha Williams. Police responded to the area, but whilst processing the accident scene, a white Ford Econoline van approached and slammed into the back of a parked Chevy Equinox. The impact injured two more people and claimed the life of a well-known Belmopan resident. Vejea Alvarez tells us more. 

Vejea Alvarez, Love News: Miriam’s Sunrise Deli is usually filled with customers and bright smiles, but today the Belmopan Market stall was closed and a black bow hung over its door. On Monday night, the restaurant’s owner, 54-year-old Miriam Cordon, lost her life in a road traffic incident. Cordon, her son Joshua Magaña and Angel Pastrana were returning to Belmopan when they encountered the traffic incident near Mile 25 on the George Price Highway just before 9pm. Unfortunately, as the trio waited for police to process the scene, an alleged drunk driver rammed his van into the back of Cordon’s Chevy Equinox. The impact mortally wounded Cordon and injured the two others. Corrine Rudon, one of Cordon’s friends, says the businesswoman’s death sent shockwaves throughout the Belmopan market. 

Corine Rudon, Friend: “Everyone around this market miss her so much today. When we hear the tragic, well I never hear it until this morning because they didn’t want to tell me last night and they tell me like 6.30 this morning, my son tell me. And it was heartbreaking for us. You know, and the last time Miriam spoke to us, Thursday, she was going to iMexico, she said to visit her sister. So she came in here and she was dressed up and had on her hat and everything and I told her “Madaz gyal you look like Mexican.” She said “Yes man you know how I do it.” And that was the last time we heard from Miriam.”

Vejea Alvarez, Love News: Cordon died while being transported to Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital where her son and Pastrana remain hospitalized and according to her employee Ruth Guzman she spent each day being a jovial person. 

Ruth Guzman, Employee: “She was happy. She would come out and she said she was going and then she was dressed up well and I even told her “Miss Miriam you look like a good pretty American girl. You look like a white woman.” I told her. You look good.” I told her. She said “Thanks Ruth.” When she went I told her “Miss Miriam, bye, take care of yourself.” She said “I will.” And she hollered for me over yonder to get the key and she went. I told her goodbye. Then yesterday she said she would come today but she never made it. I feel a way but we can’t bring her back.”

Vejea Alvarez, Love News: Cordon was well known in the capital city and her death has left many mourning. On Facebook, the Belmopan City Council described her as a beloved resident and a patriot of Belmopan. The council says her presence in the market square will be deeply missed by all who had the privilege of knowing her loving soul. And that sentiment was echoed today by Rudon.

Corine Rudon, Friend: “Because around here we’re not stuck up with any of our workers. Everybody, if we don’t have food we would say “Mir you have this. Or you have that ?” And she’d say “Patty you have this ? Terrice…” you know everybody cooperates with one another and that’s how we know Miriam. First when the old market was here she used to sell dry goods. And then when we came back to this market here she got a stall to sell food.”

Reporter: How do you think the atmosphere will be now with Ms.Miriam no longer being around ? 

Corine Rudon, Friend: “Hmm man she just left and we miss her already. Because as morning time and she comes we don’t have to ask if Miriam came we’d know she is here because as she comes she puts on her music and she has the place lively and bright. You’d pass and come to my kitchen “How things today ?” She go to Ms.Patty “Pat, what’s going on.” And you know ? She visited us from kitchen to kitchen we would be talking to one another.”

Vejea Alvarez, Love News: The driver of the van, Leroy Nuñes, was detained by police pending several charges, including driving with alcohol concentration above the prescribed limit, manslaughter by negligence, causing death by careless conduct and driving a motor vehicle without due care and attention. Vejea Alvarez, Love News