Latest news with #CastroVerde
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Yahoo
What we know about family killed in car crash in Portugal while holidaying from the UK
A Portuguese family who were living in the UK have been killed in a car accident while on holiday in Europe. Domingos Serrano, 55, wife, Maria, 51, and their 20-year-old twin sons, Afonso and Domingos, died when their car was involved in a collision with another vehicle on a motorway near Castro Verde in southern Portugal, authorities have confirmed. The family was living in Thetford, Norfolk, prompting a tribute from the local football club, where the sons played. A 19-year-old woman - reported to be the girlfriend of one of the twins - and the driver of the other car was also killed in the crash. What we know The Serrano family are believed to originally be from the Mourão area of Portugal but were reportedly living in Thetford, in Norfolk. They are understood to have regularly visited the south-east of Portugal for holidays and were travelling from Faro to Mourão when the crash happened. The car they were in, reportedly a Nissan Juke hired from Faro airport, collided with another vehicle on Saturday on the IP2 motorway near Castro Verde, in the Alentejo region, killing the four members of the family and two others. In a statement, the municipal council of Mourão declared two days of municipal mourning starting on Sunday. It said: "The Municipality, in collaboration with the family and law enforcement agencies, especially the Castro Verde Local GNR Station, officially acknowledged the license plate of the vehicle in which they were traveling, confirming the identity of the passengers at 3:35 PM. "The vehicle contained four occupants, all of whom were from Mourão, and a young woman related to the family. Residents of England, they were traveling from Faro to Mourão for their usual and well-deserved vacation." It offered its condolences to the families and friends of the victims, and said all activities and events promoted by the municipality were cancelled throughout the weekend. A tribute was also paid on the Thetford Town Youth Football Club, where the twins had played for the under-18s team. The statement on its Facebook page - shared with a picture of the family - said: "Thetford Town Football Club would like to pass on our sincere condolences to the Serrano family and the local Portuguese community after the recent tragedy while on holiday. "Afonso and Domingo's were both an integral part of our U18's team in recent years, both brothers sadly passed away in Portugal with their parents and friends in a tragic car accident. The loss of this lovely family will leave a massive void in the local community." It added: "Partiram, mas numca serao esquecidos", which means: 'They are gone, but they will never be forgotten.' What we don't know Alongside the four Serrano family members, the exact identities of the two other people who died in the crash have not emerged yet. Reports have suggested one was the girlfriend of one of the twin sons, named in some reports as a 19-year-old Polish national called Veronica, and the other the driver of the other car involved, who The Sun named as 36-year-old Ruben Goncalves. The exact circumstances and cause of the crash have also not been revealed, though they are said to be under investigation. While the Serrano family are believed to be from Mourão originally, and holidayed their regularly, they reportedly lived in Thetford in Norfolk. It is not know exactly when or why they moved to the UK, and other than the sons' involvement in the local football club, other work or interests have not yet emerged.
Daily Mail
2 days ago
- Sport
- Daily Mail
Heartfelt tribute paid to family killed in 'fireball' crash hours after renting car on holiday in Portugal
Heartfelt tributes have been paid to a family killed in a 'fireball' crash just hours after they rented a car while holidaying in Portugal. Domingos Serrano, 55, and his wife Maria Serrano 51, alongside their twin sons Domingos and Afonso, both aged 20, tragically died at the scene near Castro Verde. The family, believed to have been living in Thetford, Norfolk, were driving at around 1.40am on Saturday when their nissan Juke, rented just hours earlier at Faro Airport, hit another car on a bend. The tragedy took place along the IP2 main road in Castro Verde where signs shows the speed limit is 80km/h. The driver of the second vehicle involved, named locally as 26-year-old Portuguese mine worker Ruben Conclaves, also sadly died. The father-of-one had been driving south of the IP2. Meanwhile, the 19-year-old Polish partner of one of the twins, identified locally by the first name Veronica, is also understood to have passed away following the collision. Pictures from the crash scene showed the mangled wreckage of one of the two vehicles involved in the accident beside the road, with the vehicle initially said to have burst into flames. Now, heartbreaking tributes have poured in for the family, who were living in the UK but are understood to have not been British nationals. Thetford Football Club described twins Domingos and Afonso as 'an integral part' of the U18s team, saying that they wished to 'pass on our sincere condolences to the Serrano family and the local Portuguese community'. The Norfolk club added: 'The loss of this lovely family will leave a massive void in the local community.' Meanwhile, Thetford Bulldogs Football Club remembered the twins, both former players for the club, as part of the 'Bulldogs family'. They added: 'Yesterday the club received tragic news that former players Dom and Alfonso Serrano lost their lives in a car accident while heading to a summer holiday. 'Dom and Alfonso were part of our Bulldogs family under Jo and Tom before transitioning to senior football. 'Our thoughts and deepest condolences are with their families and loved ones during this devastating time.' The post concluded: 'Partiram, mas nunca serao esquecidos,' which translates to: 'They are gone, but they will never be forgotten.' The tragedy, was said by Mourau authorities to have taken place during the family's 'usual and deserved vacation' as they travelled north from the Algarve. Well-placed police sources said that the twins' parents hailed from Mourao and were returning to the municipality for holidays. Mr Domingos is also said to have celebrated his 55th birthday on Thursday just two days before flying to Portugal. In a statement, Mourao's municipal council confirmed the deaths, stating: 'It is with great regret that the municipality announces this information, offering its condolences to the families and friends of the victims,' it said. 'In the car there were four occupants, of Mouranese nature, and a young woman with affinity to the family. Residents in England, [they] follow from Faro to Mourão, for the usual and deserved vacation.' Following the incident, town hall chiefs in Mourao declared two days of mourning from Sunday, with several activities and events initially planned across the weekend immediately cancelled. Devastated commenters have taken to social media to pay tribute to the family following the fatal incident. One heartbroken social media user, understood to be a close friend of the family, wrote last night: 'Rest in peace friend Domingos Serrano and family.' Meanwhile, locals in Mourao also paid their respects to the family, with one user saying: '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.' Another commenter added: 'My sincere condolences to the loved ones of those killed. 'Mourao must rally round to comfort the families of the victims.' Shortly following the incident, a police source close to the ongoing investigation into the early-hours said: 'The rental car was such a wreck officers could only recover half a number-plate and with that began working on trying to establish the identity. '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.' The circumstances surrounding the fatal accident are being investigated by the GNR police force. A spokesperson for Mourao's Municipal Council previously said: '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.'
The Sun
2 days ago
- The Sun
Club pays tribute to UK footballer twins, 20, killed along with mum, dad & 2 others in horror Portugal head on crash
A FOOTBALL club has vowed tragic twins Afonso and Domingos will be 'never forgotten' after they were among six killed in a horror head-on smash in Portugal. The 20-year-old siblings, their dad Domingos Serrano, 55, wife Maria Joao, 51, and two others all died in the early hours of Saturday. 5 5 The family had just rented a Nissan Juke at Faro Airport before they smashed into another vehicle on the IP2 main road near Castro Verde. The 19-year-old girlfriend of one of the twins – believed to be of Polish origin but living in the UK – was also killed, along with the other driver, 36-year-old Ruben Goncalves. Local reports said Goncalves, from Almodovar, worked at the Neves-Corvo zinc-copper mine and had a four-year-old son. Thetford Town Youth FC, where the twins once played, paid tribute in a heartfelt Facebook post. It read: 'Thetford Town Football Club would like to pass on our sincere condolences to the Serrano family and the local Portuguese community after the recent tragedy while on holiday. 'Afonso and Domingo's were both an integral part of our U18's team in recent years, both brothers sadly passed away in Portugal with their parents and friends in a tragic car accident.' The club said their loss would leave a 'massive void' in the local community, signing off with a Portuguese phrase meaning: 'They are gone, but they will never be forgotten.' It added in a separate post: 'They will be sadly missed. Condolences to all their family. Rest in peace.' Shocked locals have also shared their condolences online. Heidi Smith commented: 'Absolute shock a lovely family and will be missed.' Michelle Jermy added: 'Absolutely heartbreaking. Such a loss, condolences to all those grieving and thinking of family, friends and the wider community processing the pain from this sad news. Rest in peace.' Louise McLaughlin, from Thetford, said: 'Absolutely heartbreaking. Rest in peace.' Tania Marques Da Cruz wrote: '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 said: 'My sincere condolences to the loved ones of those killed. Mourao must rally round to comfort the families of the victims.' The crash happened around 1.40am on a stretch of road where the speed limit is 49mph. The family – originally from Mourao in the Evora district but long settled in England – had landed at Faro Airport just hours earlier and were driving north for their summer break. Domingos, believed to live in Thetford, Norfolk, had celebrated his 55th birthday only two days before boarding the flight to Portugal. A source close to the investigation said the wreckage was so severe 'officers could only recover half a number plate' before piecing together who was inside. The grim discovery came after the couple's daughter called police, unable to reach her parents or brothers after hearing about the crash. The insider said: '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.' The GNR police force is investigating the cause of the smash. Mourao town hall has declared two days of mourning from Sunday. A spokesman said: '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.' 5 5
The Guardian
2 days ago
- The Guardian
UK family killed in car crash on holiday in southern Portugal
A UK family have been killed in a car accident while holidaying in southern Portugal, local authorities have confirmed. Domingos Serrano, 55, his wife, Maria, 51, and their 20-year-old twin sons, Afonso and Domingos, died when their car collided with another vehicle on Saturday on the IP2 motorway near Castro Verde, in the Alentejo region,. Also killed in the crash was a 19-year-old woman reported to have been the girlfriend of one of the twins, along with the 26-year-old driver of the other car involved. The family were reportedly on their way from Faro to Mourão, in Portugal's south-east, where they regularly spent holidays. The victims, originally from the Mourão area, lived in Thetford, Norfolk. Though they were resident in the UK, it is understood they were not British nationals, according to Sky News. In a statement, the municipal council of Mourão confirmed the deaths and declared two days of mourning. 'It is with great regret that the municipality announces this information, offering its condolences to the families and friends of the victims,' it said. 'In the car there were four occupants, of Mouranese nature, and a young woman with affinity to the family. Residents in England, [they] follow from Faro to Mourão, for the usual and deserved vacation.' The council announced the cancellation of all municipal activities and events across the weekend as a mark of respect. Tributes have been paid to the family by non-league Thetford Town Football Club, where the twins had played for the under-18s team. In a post shared on social media, the club said: 'Thetford Town Football Club would like to pass on our sincere condolences to the Serrano family and the local Portuguese community after the recent tragedy while on holiday. 'Afonso and Domingo's were both an integral part of our U18's team in recent years, both brothers sadly passed away in Portugal with their parents and friends in a tragic car accident. The loss of this lovely family will leave a massive void in the local community.' 'Partiram, mas nunca serao esquecidos,' the club said, which translates to: 'They are gone, but they will never be forgotten.' An investigation into the cause of the crash is under way.
