After the tragic death of 28-year-old motorcyclist Christopher Paul Abela (below, with his wife) last week after being involved in a road accident, Christopher’s father, Paul, is appealing to the public be more attentive on the roads in order to prevent such accidents reoccurring on our streets.
“In incidents like these, you become more aware,” the grieving father told The Malta Independent on Sunday. “People need to look at what happened from two angles – from the angle of cars on the road and from the viewpoint of the authorities.”
Our roads, he said, are having to cope with an increase in the number of cars for which they were not initially built and therefore the authorities are not to blame. “So we need to keep even more in tune with regulations,” he said, “even if it means arriving a bit late at our destination.
“The authorities, who over the years have done a lot of good and created this whole infrastructure, should look at the more accident-prone areas, the blind spots, and take action where it is needed,” he said.
Paul said that his son will be remembered as a friendly person with a wide range of friends, and for his exceptionally positive attitude. “We have to concentrate on the positive side of life,” he said, “even at times like this, which is very hard. Life is based on faith and acceptance, and you have to keep moving forward.
“We have to forgive,” he said, “we have to pray for the people involved so that they will manage to overcome the trauma. I think it is very hard on everybody.”
Paul (below) said he would especially like to express his gratitude to Christopher’s colleagues and friends, the police, and to everyone else who has shown their support for the family in one way or another at this difficult time.
In a similar appeal, a friend of Chris turned to Facebook saying: “Chris, together with other road users, cannot pay the ultimate price and get nothing in compensation. We as road users, irrespective of whether these victims were known to us, must make a conscious effort to drive safely and look at ourselves in the mirror first before judging others, as that is the only way in which we will ever improve the situation on the island.
“I would like to call on the government to evaluate our road infrastructure and junctions such as the one that claimed Chris’s life.”
Since the tragic news last week, tributes have been pouring in on Facebook, describing the victim in heartfelt messages. “Christopher Paul Abela was a man who was driven by his own motivation, took up challenges with pride and was a friend to anyone who needed one,” one post read. Another described Christopher as “always wearing a smile and always ready to help”.
Christopher died on 8 June following a traffic accident in Mrieħel while he was on his way to work in Valletta. His father said that his son found his motorbike was useful when it came to parking. Sources said that Christopher, a law student and former police officer, died on impact after being hit by a truck that overtook traffic to turn into Mrieħel.