Boat runs aground near lagoon side Ambergris Caye

Reports reached our office of a boat that had ran ashore around 6:30pm tonight. In our initial investigations, we were able to contact the operator of the San Pedro Water Jets express, who was confirmed that a boat belonging to his company was in fact involved in a minor accident when the boat ran into shallow waters.

No casualties were recorded. Reports are that the boat had arrived from Chetumal carrying international passengers en route to Caye Caulker. The passengers were scheduled to take a connecting boat that was leaving San Pedro en route to Belize City at 5:30pm (with a stop over in Caye Caulker).

Due to the absence of Immigration Officers at the terminal, the passengers were made to wait and they missed the final boat leaving the island. Another boat was secured, and it was this vessel that ran into shallow waters somewhere to the western part of San Pedro, around the Port area, en route to Caye Caulker.

About five boats were dispatched to the area to assist the passengers, assuring that they arrive at their destination and render assistance to the boat. Further details of this incident will be posted as they become available.

Update on Boat Accident

The San Pedro Sun can confirm that the name of the person who lost his life in the tragic boat accident last night is Cesar Scott.

Cesar Adolfo Scott, 33.

He is originally from the Cayo District and had recently started working at Sueño Del Mar.

The other seriously injured person is 42-year-old Antonio Tepaz, boat captain of Sueño Del Mar.
Inside the Coastal Xpress boat were reportedly 5 passengers and 1 boat captain, identified as Luis Alberto Paz. All 5 passengers and boat captain were treated at various clinics on the island and subsequently released. Among the 5 passengers, a female US National sustained various degrees of (minor) injuries to her head, arm and legs. She chose to seek further medical attention at a private clinic after being released from the PolyClinic.

Accident at sea claims 1 life...

Reports are that at approximately 7:30pm, November 15, 2009, two vessels collided at sea in the White Sands Cove area, North Ambergris Caye. The boats involved were those of Sueño Del Mar and Coastal Xpress Water Taxi. Police have confirmed that 1 person has died and another has been critically injured. All other persons involved also sustained various injuries and are being treated.

(Two points of impact on the Sueño Del Mar Boat)

A crowd gathers to render assistance.

The San Pedro Sun will have more details as they become available...

The Coastal Xpress boat that was involved in the accident.