I do not know Manual but I know a bit of his story and was able to grab his photo from a news site. I could not stop looking at the photo as to me it represents the faces of so many Guatemalans who struggle and struggle and never, ever get ahead.
A few weeks ago there was a flurry of news reports about a 74-year old, once beloved teacher, who had been run over and killed by one of Guatemala’s many “chicken buses.” These buses are former American school buses bought at auction when they are taken out of service in the U.S. They are driven to Guatemala where they find new life in “chop shops” that chop off the front end and install powerful diesel engines and add as many seats as possible. Then they enter the ranks of the public transportation system for the poor. For the most part private companies own the buses and rent them by the day to drivers. The driver pays X in rent and whatever fares he picks up beyond that is gravy. Thus, speed is more important than safety. Rumor has it that many of the many accidents are caused by drivers who are drunk, on drugs and/or using their phones. If there is an accident they take off running.
It was 7:30 in the morning when Manuel stepped on the gas and ran over the teacher, killing her instantly, on a residential street in Antigua. As they do he took off running but, unfortunately for him, Antigua is pretty much covered with security cameras. It was only a matter of time before videos of the accident from several angles started appearing online. In addition, there were a number of witnesses.
A few days before Christmas the authorities arrived at the very humble home of Manual, his indigenous wife and two small children. I guess you could call the photo his mugshot taken that day by the authorities as he was taken away to jail in front of his family.
I feel certain that he did not get up that morning thinking that he would go out and run over an elderly woman. However, the total lack of concern by the government in terms of the safety of this public transit system is likely at fault. Does anyone ever check to see that they have driver’s licenses? No. Does anyone offer training? No. Does anyone administer drug or alcohol tests? No Are there any vehicle checks or speed limits? No. Are there any background checks for potential drivers? No. Does anyone ever catch up with the majority of drivers who flee from accidents? No. Are the companies that own the buses required to carry liability insurance? No.
Manual does not look like a bad guy. He probably has, maybe, a 6th grade education but found a way to learn to drive a chicken bus so was able to eek out an income for his family. Chances are good that the accident was just that. He did not see the woman who no doubt was much shorter than the front of his bus. But in that moment two lives were ruined along with the lives of her family and his family. I see all of that in Manual’s eyes in the photo. Along with the misery of so many Guatemalas who struggle on a daily basis because of their hopelessly corrupt government that only concerns itself with the wealthy, including the owners of the not responsible bus company and the poor be damned.
I would probably never learn what becomes of Manual but I hope for his sake that the incident is termed an accident and that he can return to his family and has another chance to find a way to take care of them. No doubt he has learned a very hard lesson.