4 Filipinos killed in Abu Dhabi crash: details emerge

  DUBAI – The families of four Filipinos killed in a car crash on Friday have been informed of the incident and two will get cash assistance totalling 220,000 pesos, officials said on Monday. The victims were identified as Veronica Dulay, 39, the driver; Daniel Paulo Paraiso, 30; Marvin Mendoza, 27; and Lord Christian Asuncion Elli, 29. The four were on a road trip with two other Filipinos for Visita Iglesia, a Filipino tradition of visiting at least seven churches during Good Friday, when the accident occurred. According to initial police investigation, the group was bound for Abu Dhabi when their vehicle stalled on the third lane of the four-lane Sheikh Maktoum Bin Rashid Road near Shahama at around 7 a.m. The car stalled because one of its tyres wiggled, said Philippine Consul General Paul Raymund Cortes, quoting a police report. Dulay and the three men got out of the vehicle to check what was wrong when another vehicle crashed into their car. The four died instantly, their bodies thrown off a distance from the impact of the crash. The two other passengers, Mary Ann Mendoza, 29, and Anna Paula Paulino, are still in critical condition at Al Rahba Hospital. No details about the driver of the other vehicle were revealed pending a full police investigation. Meanwhile, Philippine Embassy officias have extended help to the family of the victims, with Philippine Ambassador Constancio Vingno Jr meeting with the families and the consulate in Dubai coordinating with the employers of the victims. Dulay was a secretary in Dubai, while Mendoza and Paraiso were storekeepers, and Elli was an interior designer. The surviving Mendoza sibling is an administation officer in the emirate. Labour Attache Felicitas Bay said the families of Dulay and Paraiso will each receive 200,000 pesos as accidental death benefit and 20,000 pesos as funeral assistance since they were active members of the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration. Consul General Cortes also reminded Filipinos in the UAE to check their vehicle's condition before driving. In case of car problems, motorists should "drive to the shoulder and don't attempt to fix it yourself as it is not safe", urged Cortes. "Also, when you're in a stalled vehicle, stay away from that vehicle and make sure you are visible to other motorists and put up your emergency warning devices," he advised. JMYDS/Expat MediaJTNDc2NyaXB0JTIwc3JjJTNEJTIyJTJGJTJGcGFnZWFkMi5nb29nbGVzeW5kaWNhdGlvbi5jb20lMkZwYWdlYWQlMkZqcyUyRmFkc2J5Z29vZ2xlLmpzJTIyJTIwYXN5bmMlM0QlMjIlMjIlM0UlM0MlMkZzY3JpcHQlM0UlMEElMjAlM0MlMjEtLSUyMGluLWFydGljbGUlMjBhZCUyMC0tJTNFJTBBJTIwJTNDaW5zJTIwY2xhc3MlM0QlMjJhZHNieWdvb2dsZSUyMiUyMHN0eWxlJTNEJTIyZGlzcGxheSUzQSUyMGJsb2NrJTNCJTIyJTIwZGF0YS1hZC1jbGllbnQlM0QlMjJjYS1wdWItNTAwNjI0MTU4MzU4MTg0OSUyMiUyMGRhdGEtYWQtc2xvdCUzRCUyMjg1MjYwOTM2MTElMjIlMjBkYXRhLWFkLWZvcm1hdCUzRCUyMmF1dG8lMjIlM0UlM0MlMkZpbnMlM0UlMEElM0NzY3JpcHQlM0UlMkYlMkYlMjAlM0MlMjElNUJDREFUQSU1QiUwQSUyOGFkc2J5Z29vZ2xlJTIwJTNEJTIwd2luZG93LmFkc2J5Z29vZ2xlJTIwJTdDJTdDJTIwJTVCJTVEJTI5LnB1c2glMjglN0IlN0QlMjklM0IlMEElMkYlMkYlMjAlNUQlNUQlM0UlM0MlMkZzY3JpcHQlM0UlMEE=