On November 29th, a tragic accident occurred involving a bus carrying students from the Ocean Academy male basketball team. The van was en route to a basketball tournament in Orange Walk Town when its tires blew out, resulting in significant injuries among the passengers. Reports indicate that the bus was transporting 20 students and staff members at the time of the incident.

Following the accident, several passengers were hospitalized with varying degrees of injuries. Emergency services responded quickly to the scene, providing medical assistance and transporting the injured to nearby hospitals for treatment. Out of the 12 people in the overturned van, six were treated in Orange Walk and released on Friday, November 29th. Another individual was released on Sunday, December 1st. Five remained in hospitals in Belize City and Orange Walk, with two in recovery, three in critical care, and two in comas.
Tragically, 18-year-old student Alex Bainton, who was one of the critical care patients, succumbed to his injuries on December 5th after suffering massive brain trauma. He had been intubated before his passing. This heartbreaking event marks a devastating conclusion to an already tragic situation. The loss has profoundly affected not only the families involved but also the wider community and the school as they mourn the young life lost under such unforeseen circumstances.

The other two critically injured patients from the car accident are 17-year-old Gilbert Teck and Teacher Zane Zuniga. Teck is currently intubated and in a medically induced coma in the ICU. Once he is stabilized, doctors plan to reverse his coma and begin treatment for his spinal injury and a broken femur. He will need to be transported out of Belize for spinal surgery, and there is communication with pediatric surgery organizations to explore options for his care.
Zuniga has sustained spinal damage that has resulted in paralysis, affecting his ability to breathe. He requires surgery to repair his spine to save his life, but this procedure is not available in Belize. He will need to be transported to Guatemala for the surgery while he is still capable of breathing. The cost for his transport is 10,000 USD, and the surgeon cannot estimate the surgery’s cost accurately until he assesses Zuniga, but he expects it will exceed $ 50,000 USD.
Ocean Academy has expressed condolences and support for the affected families in response to this tragedy. The school is committed to offering counseling and assistance to students and staff dealing with the emotional impact of this incident. The school community is coming together to honor the memory of the student who lost his life while also focusing on healing and recovery for those who were injured.
Efforts are currently underway to raise funds to assist with medical expenses. Organizations such as the Caye Caulker Village Council, Lions Club, San Pedro Town Council, and San Pedro High School have held fundraising events. Anyone wishing to contribute to this cause can donate by depositing money into the school’s bank account at Atlantic Bank. The account number is #100299151, and the name is OCEAN ACADEMY HIGH SCHOOL. Please label all deposits or transfers as “Medical Assistance.” For international donations, tax-deductible in the U.S., you can deposit them into a PayPal account for medical expenses at https://www.paypal.com/ncp/payment/NMPUE4UU45KV4.
“These basketball boys, the teacher coach, and the teacher sports coordinator gave their all to represent their school and community at regionals. Your rallying for their lives and recovery means the world to the OA Family,” said the school in a social media post.
Authorities are investigating the cause of the accident to identify the factors that contributed to this unfortunate event. Preliminary reports indicate that road conditions and possible driver error are being examined as investigators gather the details leading up to the collision.
As investigations continue, there is a collective hope for improved safety measures on Belize’s roads to prevent such tragedies in the future.