A honeymoon vacation for a couple of tourists in San Pedro ends abruptly in a horrific accident at sea that has left one man without his lower right leg and a woman suffering from lacerations to her wrist after a water taxi runs them over while they enjoyed an afternoon of snorkeling, on Friday, September 16, 2011.
It was the San Pedro Belize Express Water Taxi’s mid-day run from Caye Caulker to San Pedro that was involved in this horrific accident that occurred just a couple of miles from the water taxi’s terminal in downtown San Pedro. A passenger aboard the San Pedro Belize Express Water Taxi told Ambergris Today that the passengers and crew members were terrified to learn that the vessel had just run over a couple of people just after feeling and hearing a loud thump on the boat. The 38-foot, three outboard motor engine vessel had just run over the couple.
Apparently the captain of the boat was not able to see two tourists who were snorkeling out from shore in the busy and heavily trafficked water lane of San Pedro, Ambergris Caye. This took place in front of Carib Island Resort between 11:45a.m. and 12:15p.m. The water taxi ran over Rob Leonard, 31, and Dana Sniflet, 32, amputating Rob just above the knee of his right leg and injuring Jane on her wrist. Passengers on the boat indicate that the water taxi was not travelling close to the piers and was far from shore, on its usual course.
Contrary to other reports, the Captain of the San Pedro Belize Express vessel immediately circled around to render assistance. This is according to passengers on the water taxi. By the time they had circled around, another vessel of the Caye Caulker Water Taxi had already rendered assistance to the badly injured tourists.
The couple was immediately transported to the San Pedro Poly Clinic where they were attended by Dr. Javier Zuniga who stated that Rob and Dana were in stable condition when they were airlifted to the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital in Belize City. He also stated that Rob would lose his leg.
San Pedro Police is investigating the accident further and would not release the name of the boat captain and whether he will be charged or not until the accident is thoroughly investigated. Updates from Ambergris Today are forthcoming as they become available.
