A meth-addicted motorist has been sentenced to seven years in prison for killing two Filipino cyclists in a hit-and-run crash on the second day of Eid.
The High Criminal Court found the driver guilty of vehicular manslaughter, reckless driving, failing to aid the victims despite being able to, possession of methamphetamine, and damaging the victims’ property.
The crash occurred at dawn on Zallaq Highway when a car ploughed into four friends from the Laspag Cycling Group. Two long-term Filipino expatriates, aged 46 and 61, were killed on impact, while the other two sustained injuries.
The 29-year-old defendant told investigators that he had dropped a cigarette inside his car and took his eyes off the road to pick it up. He claimed he was startled when he looked back up and saw the cyclists.
“On March 21 at 5.55am, the defendant hit the rear of the first and second bicycles, pushing them into the emergency lane on the right,” read the Public Prosecution’s summary of the accident.
“His vehicle then continued forward, striking the body of a victim, which struck the bonnet and windshield, before being thrown into the air and landing in the right lane.
“The defendant fled the scene.”
Two cyclists at the rear of the group were thrown a distance by the impact, while the pair in front fell under the wheels of the vehicle sustaining fatal injuries.
According to medical reports, the 46-year-old victim suffered from skull fractures and lacerations to the back of his scalp, while the 61-year-old’s shoulder, leg, neck, and skull were broken.
During questioning by the Public Prosecution, the 29-year-old defendant admitted to the charges, stating that he left his Hamad Town home earlier that day after an argument with his dad.
“I was driving around and headed to Zallaq Highway,” he testified. “I was smoking and my cigarette fell as I was taking a turn. I looked down to pick it up, and when I lifted my head, I suddenly noticed people on bikes in front of me.
“I hit them and they were propelled across the road. I saw a person bleeding on the ground and I got scared, so I ran away. I went to Malkiya Beach and left my car there.”
“I walked home that afternoon and told my family what had happened. I was arrested the next day and informed the authorities where the car was.”
The defendant went on to admit that he had snorted methamphetamine, or shabu, two days before the incident.
Medical documents attached to the court files indicate that the man was admitted to the psychiatric ward after he was arrested as he claimed to have heard voices in his head that were telling him to kill himself.
However, a report from the Psychiatric Hospital stated that he was admitted for suicidal thoughts, but that his claims proved to be untrue upon evaluation.
On March 29, the GDN reported that the Filipino community in Bahrain mourned the loss of two victims, Francisco Abatayo Delostrico and Mario Valdez.
Mr Delostrico, better known as ‘Franz’, a 62-year-old mechanic, had been working in Bahrain for many years, his friends said. Mr Valdez, 47, was a private chauffeur.
Community leader Ric Advincula said the tragedy had deeply shaken the tight-knit Filipino diaspora.
“These were four friends enjoying a healthy activity in safe weather conditions. What happened to them is heartbreaking for all of us,” he told the GDN.
Early morning weekend rides are a popular activity along Zallaq Highway.
zainab@gdnmedia.bh
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