Filipino family and guests killed in ghastly accident
A Doha-based Filipino family of three and their two guests on a visit from Saudi Arabia were the five victims of the ghastly accident that happened on Monday.
The Gulf Times reported on the accident, saying it happened near Hamad International Airport on the Corniche-Wakrah highway.
Philippine ambassador Crescente Relacion yesterday identified the deceased family members as Bencris Rivera, a 36-year old engineer employed with Louie Berger construction, his wife Joycelyn Rivera, 38, and their one year-old child.
The other two victims, 24-year-old Joyce Geli and 27-year-old Marilou Cal, were nurses employed at the Specialised Medical Centre in Riyadh and were visiting Qatar during the Eid holidays.
Suzeth, the lone survivor, works at the same Riyadh hospital where Joyce and Marilou were employed as nurses.
Suzeth suffered back and head injuries but is reported to be out of danger and recuperating at the Hamad hospital.
Talking about the follow-up action of the accident, the ambassador said the embassy would recommend the hiring of a lawyer to handle the case.
"If the driver (suspect) is criminally liable, then he should be prosecuted and penalised," ambassador Relacion said.
While awaiting the results of the police investigation, Philippine embassy officials are working for the immediate repatriation of the bodies.
According to the ambassador, the Rivera family had taken their guests on a tour of Doha.
To show them the newly-opened Hamad International Airport from a distance, Bencris stopped his Nissan Pathfinder at a dedicated "short-term" parking area on the Corniche-Wakrah highway and all of them came out of the vehicle to see the airport.
"They were about to leave and Suzeth was the last to board," Relacion said.
"All of a sudden a Land Cruiser, believed to be driven by an 18- year old national, hit the Pathfinder from behind."
It is learnt that Suzeth was thrown out of the vehicle due to the impact and the vehicle caught fire.
All the five inside the Pathfinder were burnt to death. The incident happened between 12.30pm and 1pm.
Relacion said that though the impact was huge the driver of the Land Cruiser escaped with minor injuries.
A Philippine embassy official, who visited the Hamad hospital mortuary on Monday, had told Gulf Times that all the bodies were charred beyond recognition.
"The bodies have so badly been burnt that even the gender of the deceased could not be verified. Forensic examination would be required to identify the victims," he said.
As members of the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration, the families of the victims will be receiving some financial compensation from the Philippine government. [Photo: dohanews.co]
RIP to their souls. Hope the LC driver is prosecuted for the murders he committed by reckless driving. Government can install thousands of cameras but law enforcement on roads is a weekness here since drivers are sometimes below legal age to drive but they get cars to drive.
Meh.
opppssss! sorry to the souls of the victims...i'm not supposed to laugh here.
lols! @gasoline, maybe I cant drive. but i'm not a dumb for sure. hahahahaha! how the hell you will sudden stop if all the cameras are set in the same speed limit? and you are driving on that stated speed limit. lols!
Knor I assume you don't drive and don't see from the drivers preceptive. It's too extreme what your suggesting and would cause crash, because people suddenly stopping to not get caught by speed camera. We need real Traffic police doing random checks and hidden away in known speeding areas.
Justice for the Rivera Family. :( To traffic dept. Please provide more speed cams in all roads in Doha, Make the distance every 1-kilometer so that no chance to accelerate.
A VICTIM?? Of the accident,yes.. But this is an accident that was caused mainly because of showing off and being irresponsible. I really hope that the Philippine Government and the family of the REAL victims don't stop until they get REAL justice.
RIP the departed souls ........ LC driver is a victim also ..... hope he recovers fast ..... Thu, 08.10.2014, 09.18 hrs
Kiwi , You 'r going too fast , let there be official investigation before anything else .......... .................... Thu, 08.10.2014, 09.17 hrs
How the accident happened ? It looks like LC hit them from behind as their car was parked on the roadside ............. Thu, 08.10.2014, 09.15 hrs
khalid32 - apparently the 18 year old was driving at a speed of 180kph - no license, no istimara... may justice be served...
Sorry for them. But why would (the Qatari Hero) hit a car at a parking on a four lanes road at noon time? When that road got a speed radar on every kilometer? Must think first before accusing the others.
RIP beautiful people. Hope the LC driver is punished for your murders he committed whilst driving like a fool.
R.I.P - To all Qatari drivers please drive safely people can loose their loved ones in seconds in a car fire. :'(
Hope this will serve as lessons to the reckless driver, because we cant say how damage is done on both parties and for sure the Filipinos are the one who are severely affected. Justice for the KABAYAN! Quick action and fair trial. Government should stick with the truth... RIP God Bless..
Philippine ambassador said; ' If the driver (suspect) is criminally liable then he should be prosecuted and penalized'.
What does he mean?? Maybe the victims fault?
Really a very tragic incident. May their soul rest in peace.
.... "Relacion said that though the impact was huge the driver of the Land Cruiser escaped with minor injuries." ..............
was he apprehended? any news on what will be his penalty(ies)? that would be interesting...
Would really appreciate Qatar News if they can track on the case and bring updates everyday on the following points. 1. Whether police can get hold of the super hero. 2. What penalty did this hero get. By the way in most civic society if one needs a treatment for any wound caused by accident or fight one need to face a police interrogation. Is this followed in Qatar also.
It is is very sad that this has happened. If only the locals know what responsible driving is. The damage done was caused by speeding insanely for sure. This attitude while driving is really what causes most, if not all problems on the road. Speeding like crazy, Bullying by flashing their headlights, overtaking from the wrong lane and all other wrong things that they do while driving. Seriously, 5 lives including a 1 year old baby??? What kind of punishment do you think is suited for the person who caused this? If another person with a different nationality caused these deaths, what do you think would happen to that person? Will it be different or should it be the same?