The Maldives Police Service have identified the driver of the quad-bike that crashed and killed two British honeymooners on Kuredu Island Resort as 23 year-old Swedish national Filip Eugen Petre.
Filip Petre is the son of a shareholder of the company that operates the resort, and was employed by the company as a guest relations officer trainee, police stated.
The young couple from West Yorkshire, Emma and Jonathan Gray, were riding on the quad-bike as passengers when it collided with a tree around 4:00am on August 6. The UK press reported that the couple had been married for just seven days and had a six-month old son, Jake.
“Investigation into the incident has so far revealed that the accident occurred while the three were riding a four-wheel vehicle – a King Quad 700 – and crashed into a tree in the middle of the path,” police said in a statement today.
“Upon hearing of the accident the island doctor went to the scene of the accident and attempted to treat the victims, but told police that there was no sign of life from the two English tourists.”
Filip Petre suffered injuries in the crash and is currently being treated in hospital in Male’.
Jonathan Gray’s twin brother Michael told the Yorkshire Post that the family was “absolutely on our knees. We’re in shock and all pulling together as one big family.”
“They were the perfect couple. They were both high flyers, both doing well in their careers. They had such a great future ahead of them.”They were soulmates and their little boy was so special to them. Jake’s with us at the moment, with family,” he said.
Meanwhile students at West Yorkshire primary school – at which Emma Gray was a teacher – were being offered counselling following her death.
Deputy Head teacher Liz Whetham told the Post that Gray was an “outstanding” teacher and that staff and pupils were devastated.
“At the moment we’re taking each day as it comes, but we will be organising a memorial event for Emma in September, and setting up a book of condolence,” Whetham told the paper.
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Our hearts go out to the couple and their family as well as friend. Such a tragic accident! Rest in peace!
that's the first step to the truth..now hoping for the rest..the part where the driver didnt help the couple..instead he got help from someone to run off to malé to get help for himself..
it's v important that filip eugen petre is brought to justice and the couple could rest in peace.
Sincere condolences
What were they doing on a quad bike at that time of the morning ?
What about people trying to sleep
drunks
Just because the driver is in Hospital and a son of a shareholder it does NOT mean he is responsible for the accident. Who knows what happened, it could just have been an unfortunate accident. Let the authorities do their work and find out before accusing someone.
The point of leaving the accident was probably to alert the doctor. Who else could have done that? And then if he is injured, to get treated and to be on the first plane to Male and hospital is not very strange. It does not mean he tried to run away which would be totally impossible anyway for an injured person in the Maldives.
I am not saying this is right but I believe it's wrong to accuse someone without facts.
I think that Filip Eugene PETRE will anyway never have peace again. He is a great boy, well educated and has a big heart. it was a horrible mistake, that I know, he will take responsibility for but that will not change the fact that little jack has lost his parents. Pls. Let's not write and blame. It was a horrible accident. Filip Eugen will have to deal with this for ever, can anyone imagine what that means if it happens to one of u? I feel so sorry for all the friends and school kids as well as family members for the deceased.
I'd just like to say that this was a terrible accident, but it was an accident. I think it's important that people stop pointing the blame and wait until the investigation has been complete. The family of the poor couple are the only people who have the right to be angry and they have the good nature to wait until things have become clearer before making any accusations. Let's remember that distress has been caused to the family of the other person involved in the accident also...that he is someone's son, someone's brother, people's friend. Let us refrain from angry comments and spreading idle gossip and pray for all the people and families who are suffering due to this tragic accident.
everyone in resorts has internal mobiles and their own mobile phones, so that somebody ran to find doc abandoning the two guests is not quite correct..
@ Kuredu friend/ @ Thoughtful.. thank you for the nice comments. Its the right thing to do and its important to be objective. I am sure today it was a tragic accident and the family also Filip will have to deal with it.
@ Universal truth: you are just a bitter person and you are using this tragic accident as a plattform for your bitterness and blaming games. i feel sad for you.
people dont get drunk by accident, they dont speed by accident, they dont leave others behind by accident..they have a choice..not like the couple who were passenger..they didnt chose to die.. rip and much courage to their lil baby boy as he grows up
@Thoughtful
"I’d just like to say that this was a terrible accident, but it was an accident".
36 years as a Police Officer dealing with traffic "accidents" has shown me that every single one has a cause. This is either a) driver or rider behaviour, b) very rarely, mechanical failure due to poor maintenance or c) a wild animal running into the road.
Of these 3 causes, only c) is truly "an accident". The other causes are human error.
We can only speculate as to the cause of this crash, but as they were leaving the bar at 4am, and there do not seem to be any independent witnesses, alcohol is a probable factor. As this was a double fatal, The rider should have been tested for his alcohol level at hospital. If he was not, we may never know the truth.
Think twice before pointing the finger!! Well said to Rami, Kuredu Friend and Thoughtful. Yes this has been a tragic and devastating freak accident. My heart goes out to the families of Jonathan and Emma, especially their precious son Jake. Please remember also that, the young man Filip who was also injured and is in hospital has family and friends that have been worried sick waiting to find out how he is. He is an amazing, lovely, kind and genuine young man who would not hurt anyone intentionally and now he will have this on his shoulders for the rest of his life. Accidents happen, it does not mean anyone is to blame! Rami, as you said, just because he was involved and the only one that has survived does not instantly mean that he is the one to blame. Sorry to say but any of them could have been driving that Quad! Additionally how people can possibly say that it is the resorts fault is beyond me, seriously, is the management mean to have all the guest and staff on leads?? Unfortunatley, what ever happened, nothing can change it now, it is a lesson that maybe people should think twice about things before doing them. Sending my thought to the families involved and also the the guest and the amazing staff at Kuredu. xxx
Silpris and Ste think twice before bothering to comment again. Clearly you have no idea of what you are talking about. Please remember that there are families and friends of the 3 people involved looking at these comments on a daily basis. I understand that some peole just want to have someone to blame but it is not the right way forward...
Have a look at this quad bike on YouTube, there is seating for one person only (the driver) plus a luggage rack front and rear. Hard to see how it could safely carry three adults. As these were British citizens who died suddenly outside the UK, an inquest will be held in England eventually, but there is only one person who can give an account of what happened that night.
Everyone quiet, it's simply a fatal accident with bitter consequences. The justice will act
@ universal truth & silpriss. You keep going on about how the driver had a choice not to speed, not to leave the accident. Firstly Filip was most likely going to get help and in shock. Secondly everyone who got on that quad bike had a choice to get on it. Unfortunately it turned into devastating accident. It is tragic enough without you ranting on and pointing fingers. Let the police do their job and pray for all the people involved! Show some respect! My thoughts go out to Emma and Jonathan rip, their loved ones and Filip and his family & friends.
@aje..funny how you dont mention drinking..forgot?
@universal truth...Has the news mentioned anything about alcohol yet? Stop spreading hate, let people do their jobs and show some respect!
accident Meaning: an undesirable or unfortunate happening that occurs unintentionally and usually results in harm, injury, damage, or loss; casualty;
I wounder if @ universal truth & silpriss know the meaning of accidents.
A day that one of their love ones get into a situation like this what are they going to say.... we are humans, humans can do mistakes but the most important is that you learn out of those mistakes. @ universal truth & silpriss do you really think that philip drove them into a tree to kill them??? i mean are you that stupid? how old you guys??
Grow up!!
I am a farmer back in England,and I have a quad.By the drivers knee there is a large sign stating that these vehicles must not be used to carry passengers!!!!!
a tragic accident and our thoughts and prayers are with all involved.
those who have been so quick to pass judgement i hope you can put your hand on your heart and say you have never done anything wrong in your lives, no sin, no bad action towards others, no lies etc if not keep your mouths shut;
Stop blaming. This was no ones intention and you people aren't making it easier for anyone trying to put the blame on someone. And it was not like the driver forced the couple to come with them, everyone has a choice. And this choice ended tragically. You can't be blaming guys, it's not like you know what really happened, why, how, so stop judging, think about being in the drivers shoes, it is not easy to live with so let's all just wish the lovely couple to rest in peace and i send my condolences to their family, and hopefully the driver will heal from his injuries and get help with overcoming the tragic this accident caused.
This is a very tragic accident for all parts involved!
One can only imagine the damage this will leave for the families, the resorts reputation.
Due to political factors involved there are many false comments being made aswell as stories. One should be careful what to believe aswell as respect the situation. Clearity will follow as everything is being scrutinized closely.
In this case more harm will come from all speculation and nonesence being said.
Fact is Filip Eugen Petre is still in the hospital. Due to the political involvement hes not getting the treatement necessary as the hospital in Male dont have all the necessary equipement. Normally for small injuries locals are sent abroad for treatement.
This is obviously a tragic accident and one should be careful what to believe and state.
Another article in Minivannews claims that the quad bike did not officially exist in Maldives, i.e. was not registered, and that the rider was not licensed to use it...hopefully the Police investigation will progress without fear of offending the resort management and shareholders. Good comment by Larry Dodds re carrying passengers being forbidden.
There's no doubt that this tragic accident was unintentional. Riding a quad bike at 4 am with guests on board is by no means normal even if the rider was the owner's son. There is clearly a flaw of the management.
i hope Filip Petre will take the full responsibility of bringing up the small baby decently and with lot of love,care and affection so that the boy wont feel much difference
Without wanting to get involved in any arguments on this site I think it is hugely important that people refrain from gossip and hateful remarks about anyone involved in this matter. The world is full of terrible accidents such as this and it should remind us to take care if the people we love and to show support and understanding rather than get angry and point the blame. This is true to those people that have been posting angry comments towards Filip and the Resort and especially true to those that have never even been to Kuredu and don't know Filip or his family.
I used to work on Kuredu and I can tell you without a shadow of a doubt that Filip is a lovely lovely young man! He is kind, generous, he wears his heart on his sleeve and always has time for everybody. Most importantly, Filip is very sensible and would never in a million years have intentionally put the lives of anyone else at risk!
Please keep in mind that although two people have died, and it really is dreadful, there is still a young man with severe injuries in hospital trying to come to terms with what has happened. It doesn't help anyone to get angry or to speculate about what exactly happened that night.
It is a time for all of us to show compassion and understanding towards everyone involved. We are all prone to accidents and mistakes and in many ways life is fragile. The thing that gets us through the tough times, that we all experience, is the support of friends and family. Let's all show Filip and his family that support!
Firstly i can only imagine what it must feel like for the families of all involved.
I find it a little strange how everybody is assuming that just because filip is the owners son that there has to be some kind of coverup!! why is everybody so intent on assuming the worst from a boy who is also at this moment in hospital, dealing with the physical and emotional ramifications of this accident.
Yes it is tragic what has happened,and my heart goes out to the families, but lets stop with the blame and let the authorities sort it out without speculation and the spread of complete rubbish.
every time something like this happens people who are not involved are always very quick to point finger and blame. i feel so bad for the families of the victims but i have also known filip since we were both little kids. this young man is like a brother to me and is the kindest person one could ever hope to meet. he is not only struggling in the hospital but since his heart is so big the hardest part for him right now is dealing emotionally with the accident. he obviously feels terrible for what happened and his condolences go out to the relatives of the families of Emma and Jonathan. this is a tragedy and my love goes out to them as well. but i hope that you wont be as quick to bad mouth filip now because he is really one of the best people in the world.
JACOB
He killed two people driving a quad that is designed for one person AND THEY WHERE DRUNK utter madness he deserves a long prison sentance.
Maldevian laws are harsh and i hope he gets the full force of the law thrown at him he killed 2 people starting out on their married life he should probably face the death penalty ..
dave, i understand that you are upset about this whole situation as am i, i feel terrible for everyone involved. but the death penalty? this was an accident, not an execution style murder.. and i havent seen any statements from the police that they were drunk so i assume you are speculating only.. and you are right.. THEY shouldnt have been three on the bike.. but i hardly think filip forced them on it so you cant put all the blame on him for that one..
He should have said NO as he is supposed to be resort owners son and knows better.. He is 100% to blame him and two others on a quyad designed to carry one all three of them drunk .. Who are you trying top kid ? he deserves a life sentance for murder to much mention of accident HE SHOULD HAVE SAID NO HE CHOSE TO DRIVE WHILST DRUNK HE CHOSE TO DRINK HE HAS CHOSEN A PRISON SENTANCE ...
Its not speculation that he was drunk, it is fact, 4 british tourists and 2 german tourists have given statements to the british police confirming that they had spent the evening drinking with filip petre. They have all confirmed that filip on several occasions had gone behind the bar and brought over bottles of champagne and was well an truly drunk and over the limit to drive by the time the bar closed never mind hours later after continuing to party at his private villa with a handful of guests from the bar which sadly included jonathan and emma. You say that he is a 'nice boy' and 'well educated' and that 'accidents happen'. This would have been an accident if he hadent had been drinking but as he had been drinking the responcibility lyes solely with filip. RIP jay and emma x x x
its all gone very quiet what happened to my grandson and his wife. what action is being taken against driver is he in custody where he belongs