Driver due in court over death of Dubai triathlete

Driver who killed an Arab triathlon champion early on Friday morning is in 20s and from Nepal.

Handout photo: Roy Nasr - co-founder for TriDubai (Courtesy Ian Pelley)
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ABU DHABI // The driver accused of running over and killing an Arab triathlon champion while drunk at the wheel is expected to be referred to the traffic court today.

The man, thought to be from Nepal and in his late 20s, was not injured in the accident early on Friday morning, Dubai Police said yesterday.

"The procedure now is to keep him in prison for not more than 48 hours after the accident," said Lt Imran Al Hammadi, of the traffic police.

Roy Nasr, 49, a Lebanese expatriate, was on an early-morning training cycle with two friends when a Honda saloon hit them from behind on Safa Park Bridge.

Mr Nasr died at the scene. The other two cyclists, Ali and Sarmad, were taken to hospital. Both were discharged late on Friday night with no significant injuries.

Nasr represented Lebanon at the 2006 Asian Games and competed in several Ironman events.

He was training to compete in Ironman South Africa, where he hoped to qualify for the Ironman World Championships.

Ian Le Pelley, a close friend with whom Nasr cofounded the Dubai-based training group TriDubai last year, said Nasr's wife, Tina, and children, Tala and Elie, were "holding up remarkably well".

Mr Le Pelley has set up a tribute page for Nasr on the TriDubai website, tridubai.org.