Biking mourner dies in collision with another funeral goer
The funeral of a motorbiking enthusiast – a member of the Grupo Motard de Gândara, near Figueira da Foz – ended in tragedy this week: one of the bikers in a procession accompanying the hearse ended up in a violent collision with a van driver (also apparently on his way to the funeral).
The biker – a man in his late 60s – was carrying his wife as pillion passenger: she ended up being thrown violently forwards, ending up on the bonnet of the van, with serious injuries.
The van driver knew both victims as they all lived in the same village. He was understandably “devastated”, telling witnesses that he simply had not seen the biker coming towards him, writes Correio da Manhã.
Adding to the drama was the fact that the dead man’s son was riding his motorbike in the procession accompanying the hearse, and on seeing his father’s bike ‘missing’ from the parade, he doubled back, to find his father dead, and his mother being treated by paramedics.
All in all, the funeral of Pedro Lopes, 43, who died the week before in a motorcycle accident, could not have gone much worse. Notícias de Coimbra has written today that “Figueira da Foz laments two sons of the region”.
The family of the husband and wife victims all had to receive psychological assistance.
natasha.donn@portugalresident.com
