Six people, including four members of a family with British passports, have been named after they were killed in a horror head-on car crash in Portugal
The four family members who died in a tragic car crash while on holiday have been named for the first time.
Two twins aged 20, their father, 55, their 51-year-old mother, and one of the youngsters’ girlfriends all died in the accident, which also claimed the life of a Portuguese man who was travelling alone in the second vehicle.
Now, the parents who were killed in a head-on crash in a Nissan Juke they had rented from Faro Airport have been identified as Maria Joao and Jose Fale. Their twin sons Domingos and Afonso also died. It comes after a Brit mum’s ‘horrendous’ death after being scratched by a puppy with rabies on holiday.
A source close to the ongoing investigation said: “The car was such a wreck officers could only recover half a number-plate and with that began working on trying to establish the identity.
“Today a daughter of the couple killed alongside their twin sons, worried because she had heard about the crash in Portugal and was concerned because she couldn’t contact her loved ones, rang the police to speak about her fears it was her family involved.
“With the information she gave them officers made checks with the hire car firm at Faro Airport and tragically discovered a match.
“That was how they were able to confirm the identities of the five occupants in the car with the four members of the same family inside.”
After the smash, the hire car burst into flames, according to local reports. The Portuguese man travelling in the other car, 26-year-old Ruben Goncalves, has also been named. Ruben worked at a zinc-copper mine southeast of Castro Verde called the Neves-Corvo mine. He had a son aged around four.
Pictures from the crash scene showed the wreckage of one of the two vehicles involved in the accident in a field, where a blaze took hold after the collision.
The crash happened on a bend on the IP2 where signs shows the speed limit is 80kmh. Shocked locals took to social media today to express their shock and upset at what had happened.
Tania Marques Da Cruz said: “My most sincere condolences to all those killed. I hope their souls rest in peace. It’s so sad to hear of people leaving their homeland and friends in search of a better life and then have their lives end like this. How unfair life is.”
Cesar Caleiro wrote on Facebook: “My sincere condolences to the loved ones of those killed. Mourao must rally round to comfort the families of the victims.”
A local paper in Mourao, confirming the names of the family, said: “Jose Fale and his wife Maria Joao and their sons died along with their daughter-in-law. Mourao is in mourning.”
The circumstances surrounding the fatal accident are being investigated by the GNR local police force. Town hall officials in Mourao have declared two days of mourning starting from tomorrow.
A spokesman said: “The Municipal Council of Mourao has decreed two days of municipal mourning, effective from tomorrow, Sunday, following the death of five family members involved in a traffic accident last night on the IP2, near Castro Verde.
“The Municipality, in coordination with the family and law enforcement authorities, namely the local GNR Post in Castro Verde, obtained the number plate of the vehicle they were travelling in and confirmed the identity of the passengers at 3:35 p.m today.
“There were four occupants in the car, all from Mourao, and a young woman with ties to the family. Residents of England, they were traveling from Faro to Mourao for their usual and well-deserved vacation.
“It is with great sadness that the Municipality announces this information, offering its condolences to the families and friends of the victims.
“We inform you that all activities and events promoted by the Municipality are cancelled for the entire weekend.”