Belizean tycoon, U.S. family dead in crash

BELIZE CITY, Belize, March 2 (UPI) -- A Belizean bottling tycoon has died in a small-plane crash that also killed a young U.S. couple working at a school he supported and their children.

Barry Bowen, the second-richest man in the Central American nation of Belize, was at the controls of his Cessna 206 when it crashed, the Boston Globe reported Tuesday. He was flying with Jillian and Michael Casey to Ambergris Caye for a fund-raising event.

Broadcasters in Belize said the plane apparently had mechanical problems. NewsBelize.com described Bowen as an experienced pilot who had been flying for more than 40 years.

Bowen, knighted by Queen Elizabeth in 2008, owned bottling plants for Guinness and Coca-Cola. Prime Minister Dean Barrow called him a "Belizean giant, a colossus in terms of Belizean enterprise."

The Caseys both worked at Gallon Jug Community School, located on a nature reserve owned by Bowen. Michael, originally from Albany, N.Y., was the principal and Jillian, from Marion, Mass., taught third and fourth grades.

Their two children, Makayla, 3, and Bryce, 7 months, also died.

The couple met at St. Michael's College in Colchester, Vt. They married in 2006 in Belize.