Memorial walk for teenager who died in Lamborghini crash

Over 70 people joined a commemoration this evening for a teenager who was killed when she crashed a sports car in Abu Dhabi on Saturday.

Friends of 19-year-old Aya Abou Hadir, also known by her married name, Aya Hadir Ghais, carried candles and roses in memory of their pal and released white balloons.

Aya, who is Lebanese-American, died when a Lamborghini she was driving hit a concrete protective wall and burst into flames.

Students, teachers and members of the public gathered at the university where she studied - Paris Sorbonne Abu Dhabi University (PSAD) - last night and walked under police escort to Reem Island bridge, where the accident happened.

Walk organiser, Issam Kabbara, said that he hopes the walk will become an annual event to remember Aya and others killed in road traffic accidents.

“I had a crash when the same bridge was being built. My car turned over on its roof and was written off. I know how dangerous it can be. Be remembering our friend Aya, we can also highlight road safety too,” said Kabbara, a Romanian-Lebanese student who knew Aya while studying at PSAD.

He described her as “a wonderful person who always had a smile for everyone and who was really admired”. He knew her when he trained the university women’s football team when Aya was a member.

“She played football very well, she played basketball and she was a great student,” he said.

Aya’s Lebanese husband flew to his home country on Sunday to prepare for the funeral.

The couple married when Aya was 17 and she took up studies in Abu Dhabi when he moved here to work for a UAE-based company.