Dubai student dies in accident after college farewell party

The accident happened on Al Qudra road between 6pm and 7pm

A final year Bachelor's Degree student at a Dubai-based university died in a road accident on Thursday evening, just hours after he bid goodbye to his friends at the class farewell party.
The Dubai Police have confirmed the fatality to Khaleej Times.
Christin Cherian Joseph, a 21-year-old native of Payyanamon town of Pathanamthitta district in Kerala, India, was set to complete his four-year Bachelor of Science and Business Administration degree course at the Institute of Management Technology (IMT Dubai) shortly.
"He was driving and did not notice a pile of sand accumulated on the road and hit the pile. He died on the way to hospital," Christin's father Cherian Joseph, a businessman, told Khaleej Times.
The accident happened on Al Qudra road between 6pm and 7pm, when Christin was driving with a junior college mate. They were on their way to a desert safari after leaving the farewell event. The other boy suffered injuries.
Christin was due to appear for the final year examinations scheduled for next week. Cheriyan said the body would be repatriated to his hometown for funeral. Christin is survived by his father, mother Annamma Joseph, a nurse at a government hospital in Dubai and elder sister Christy Rachel Joseph.
A students council member of IMT Dubai, said: "On Sunday morning, when college starts after the weekend, we will have 10 minutes of mourning to remember one of our best students. He was a good student, an excellent basketball player on the college team and has won many prizes. He had 10-15 medals and trophies at his home.
A faculty member told Khaleej Times: "He was a very good student. It is a big tragedy for the university community and his family. We hope the junior student injured in the accident recovers fast."
Expressions of grief and shock, as well as tributes to Christin, poured in on social media. "A person very close to my heart. Will miss you forever Bro. Rest in peace," said Alan Mammen, a friend of Christin, on his social media account.
- sathish@khaleejtimes.com

• Dubai