Abu Dhabi: Friends and professors of a teenager killed in a car crash in Abu Dhabi paid tribute to the “cheerful and dedicated” student.
Aya Hadir Gais, 19, died when the Lamborghini she was driving overturned and burst into flames after hitting a curb as she made her way to university on Saturday.
An investigation into the accident is being conducted.
The teen’s devastated friends came together on Monday to hold a memorial for the popular student at the capital’s Paris-Sorbonne University, where Aya was studying law and economics.
Around 100 people gathered to recite verses from the Quran, read poetry and heart-felt words in a touching tribute to Aya.
Lebanese-American Aya was in her first semester at the university and dreamed of being a lawyer.
“She was always cheerful, very dedicated and hardworking. She was on her way to the campus library on Saturday when the incident happened,” said Ruba Obaid, a 20-year-old student of economics at the university.
“We used to see each other every day in university. She was always happy — always smiling and I am sure she never, ever hurt anyone. If she saw anyone crying, whether she knew that person or not, she would go ahead and help them,” said Rama Hattab, an 18-year-old student who was also Aya’s roommate during a ski trip.
The teenager, who friends say dreamed of one day being a mum, had been married for two years, and the eldest sibling to a sister, Sarah, 18, and two brothers all of whom live with her parents in Lebanon.
Aya’s grieving friend Rama described the incident as a tragedy and a shock to everyone.
She also told how her friend enjoyed speeding and how the fateful trip was only her second time driving the powerful car.
“It was her second time to ride this car which came for her from Lebanon. I thank God that she died instantly at the crash and did not suffer for long,”
Aya’s hobbies included playing the piano, football and basketball. A football team member told Gulf News. “She was good at everything she did.”
