Football Community Rallies for Injured Coach

A well-known football coach and sports coordinator remains hospitalized in critical but stable condition tonight after a devastating traffic accident in Corozal left her with life-changing injuries.  Veteran High Performance Coach Miriam Villamil was among several persons traveling inside a coaster bus following a Northern Zone High Performance Program youth football training session when the vehicle reportedly collided with a parked cane truck along the San Victor Road last night.  According to information released by the Football Federation of Belize, several youth players and technical staff members sustained minor injuries and were treated following the crash. However, Villamil suffered the most severe injuries after reportedly becoming trapped inside the mangled coaster. Emergency responders, police officers, and nearby residents worked together to free her from the wreck before she was rushed to the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital Authority for emergency medical treatment in Belize City.  Family members say Villamil sustained a broken hip along with fractures to both legs. Colleagues also confirmed that doctors were forced to amputate her right foot due to the extent of the injuries she suffered in the crash.  The Football Federation of Belize has since launched an appeal for O-positive blood donations for Villamil as the football community across the country rallies around her and her family.  President of the Football Federation of Belize, Sergio Chuc, says the federation remains deeply concerned about Villamil’s condition and is offering support to those affected by the accident.

Sergio Chuc, President, FFB: “Last night the team was returning from training in Orange Walk. We have what we call a high performance academy in Orange Walk where kids with the U16 and U14, we have two groups. Yesterday was the U14 that were training and after the training we dropped these kids home to different villages where they come from ending up in Corozal. When they went into San Victor where a couple of the kids stay. Coming out they still had nine kids that would have been dropped off at different villages until getting to Corozal. They were, along in the bus, were also the coach Miss Miriam Villamil and coach, Jose Mai. Jose Mai was the driver of the Toyota Coaster mini bus. They did not lose control of the vehicle. Talking to the driver is that he was on his right side, of course coming and it was extremely dark he said and suddenly right in front of him there was cane truck parked. When he noticed and mashed the brakes you know those vehicles don’t come to sudden stop and he tried to swerve out but was too close and I think the blunt of the accident or the lick happened more to the passenger side and that is how a coach Miriam Villamil got trapped in there and it took a while before they could have gotten her out.”

Meanwhile, police continue investigating the circumstances surrounding the road traffic accident. During today’s police press briefing, Police Staff Officer ASP Stacy Smith provided an update on the ongoing investigation into the collision.

ASP Stacy Smith, Belize Police Department: “On Tuesday, 26 May 2026, at approximately 7:15 p.m., acting upon information received of a road traffic accident, Corozal Police proceeded to San Victor Road in that municipality where they observed a white 24-seater van which was extensively damaged to the front and they also observed a six-wheeler cane truck loaded with cargo that showed damage to the rear. Initial investigation revealed that the cane truck is reported to have encountered some mechanical issues and as such it was parked on the shoulder of the road and at that time it was and subsequent to that it was rear-ended by a white van. On board the white van at the time were eight persons and seriously injured in that collision was 37-year-old Miss Villamil. Miss Villamil is listed in a serious but stable condition.”

Authorities have not yet indicated whether charges are expected as investigations continue.