200 attend memorial service for crash victims in Dubai

Dubai: "You were taken from us too soon," wrote a friend in the condolence book that was kept at the Ritazza Coffee shop.

About 200 people attended the memorial service that was held at the coffee shop for Sheril, an Indian, and Michelle, Cecile, Ethel, all Filipinas who died in a horrific road accident early Sunday morning when the minibus in which they were travelling swerved near Dubai Police Officers' Club and landed on the opposite side of the road not before ramming into a car.

The four staff members were on their way to work. The minbus bus driver Mohammad Nada, an Egyptian was also killed.

The staff members were employees of the Abu Dhabi National Hotel company/Compass(ADNH) under which the coffee shop operates.

On the counter of the coffee shop stood a heart shaped red coloured collection box on which a written note read "In loving memory of Sheril, Cecilia, Ethel and Michelle."

Next to it another notice read "this week all revenue from sales at Cafe Ritazza will go to a fund for the families of Sheril, Cecilia, Ethel and Michelle."

Minute's silence

Tears welled up in the eyes of those gathered at the memorial service as Alan Morgan-George Chief Executive Officer -ADNH/Compass spoke on the loss and advised everyone to drive safely while on the roads.

A group of friends of Michelle, Cecile and Ethel were finding it difficult to control their tears as a minute's silence was being observed.

A statement issued to the media by the ADHN/Compass said that the company regretted to say that a tragic motor vehicle accident had occurred at 6.35am on July 13.

There were eight employees on board a company bus which was travelling from Sharjah to Dubai taking a staff team to work. The bus driver and four passengers were killed in the accident.

"One of the remaining three passengers was treated for first aid injuries and has subsequently been released. The other two passengers are being treated at hospital and are in a stable condition. We have company representatives on hand at the hospital to provide support to our staff and their relatives and a company medical officer who is liaising with the hospital's medical team."

The statement further read it was working closely with the authorities and the welfare of the employees and their families was its prime concern at this time.