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The accident took place on Sunday morning (13th July) opposite Dubai Police Officers' Club. Five people, including three Filipinas, were killed and four others injured in a horrific accident near the Dubai Police Officers Club on Shaikh Rashid Road in the direction of Bur Dubai from Deira yesterday morning.
The accident happened around 6.20am when the driver of a minibus carrying eight people lost control over the vehicle which jumped over the road divider and overturned on a vehicle coming from the opposite direction, said Brigadier Mohammed Saif Al Zafin, Director of General Department of Traffic of the Dubai Police.
Al Zafin said the rescue and hard task force personnel who rushed to the site found two persons lying under the minibus. They had to use hydraulic cutters to remove the injured who were rushed to Rashid Hospital. The dead include three Filipinas - Cecile, Michelle and Ethel - and 28-year-old Sheryl, Indian, and the Egyptian driver of the minbus, Mohammed Nadel. They were employees of Cafe Ritazza located in Spectrum Building in Bur Dubai. Dr Victor Butros, Head of the Emergency Section at Rashid Hospital, confirmed that five bodies were brought to the hospital. Four injured persons, including two Filipino men, were also brought to the hospital. He said one of the Filipinos was discharged after treatment, while one Filipino, whose name could not be ascertained, is in the ICU in a critical condition and two others - Raju, an Indian, and and Richard, a Filipino - who suffered moderate injuries are still in the hospital.
The identity of one of the injured, an occupant of the car, was not known till late last night.
All the eight victims, employees of Cafe Ritazza, managed by the Abu Dhabi National Hotels/Compass, were on their way to the cafe.
The victim's colleagues said Sheryl was only recently promoted as manager.
Raju, who is recovering at the hospital, was not immediately made aware of the condition of his co-workers.
A pall of gloom descended on the Spectrum office complex when the news about the tragedy of the cafe employees, who supplied snacks and beverage to the offices, broke.
"Cecile, Sheryl and the three others who died in the accident will be remembered for their cheerful exuberance," said R. Nair who works in the complex. "They brought unbridled cheer with the morning cuppa," he added.
At 9am today, staff of the 20-odd offices in the building will gather at the cafe to pray for the departed.
