Drunk driver admits causing death of Dubai triathlete Roy Nasr

The Filipino man has confessed to five charges including drunk driving and illegal consumption of alcohol - he remains in custody until the expected verdict on September 30.

Roy Nasr was hit by a drunk driver while cycling with friends in Dubai's Safa Park on September 5. Courtesy TriDubai
Powered by automated translation

DUBAI // A man has admitted causing the death of the triathlete Roy Nasr in a drink-driving incident.

The man, a Filipino, confessed at the Dubai Traffic Court to five charges: causing death, risking a person’s safety, damaging property, drunk driving and illegal consumption of alcohol.

He will remain in custody prior to a verdict – expected on September 30.

The man's car hit three cyclists including the 49-year-old Nasr as they were passing near to Safa Park during an early morning cycle ride on Friday September 6 this year.

All three were hit from behind by the drunk driver at a bridge crossing over the Sheikh Zayed Road.

Nasr, a father of two, died on impact, while his two companions, Ali and Sarmad, were treated for minor injuries.

His death prompted Dubai Police's traffic chief Maj Gen Mohammed Saif Al Zaffin to warn cyclists against practisriding on the emirate's roads.

TriDubai, the triathlon club Nasr co-founded, is holding a memorial swim on Saturday and the group is looking to establish a permanent memorial bench on the beach where Nasr used to organise Saturday swims.

In addition, a memorial trophy named after Nasr will be presented at the Jebel Ali Golf Hotel’s Super Sprint and Sprint Triathlon on October 12. Nasr was to be the race director for the event, so it has been named after him.

The St Francis of Assisi church in Jebel Ali was packed with mourners for Nasr's funeral on September 10.

For details of events see www.tridubai.org

salamir@thenational.ae