A 28-year-old London man died in a catastrophic car crash after he left his best friend's wedding to grab a phone charger. Daniel Rjabcevs had flown from Luton Airport in London to Albania for his friend's wedding on June 6.
Wedding turned tragedy
While attending the evening celebrations, Daniel left the venue in his hired car to get a phone charger. When he didn't return for hours, other guests grew worried and discovered he had been involved in a car crash. His Fiat was smashed from both sides. Daniel suffered catastrophic injuries, including multiple fractures and traumatic brain injuries, and was rushed to hospital for emergency brain surgery. Surgeons were unable to save him.
Brother's heartbreak
Vlad Merkulovs, Daniel's older brother, had dropped him off at the airport two days before the accident. The 34-year-old taxi driver from Hendon, North West London, said Daniel's death is a devastating tragedy that changed their family's life forever. "Our family is heartbroken. Daniel was a loving son, brother, friend, and a person who brought kindness and positivity into the lives of those around him. His loss has left an unimaginable void," Vlad said.
Vlad explained that Daniel left the wedding to get a charger and never returned. Guests became worried and contacted police. "My brother's car, the little Fiat, was smashed from both sides so there was no chance of survival. They did brain surgery. They tried to save him but he was in a critical condition and had brain damage," Vlad added.
Funeral arrangements
Daniel had lived in London his whole life and worked as an architect. His body will be transported from Albania to Latvia, where the family is originally from, for the funeral. Vlad has set up a GoFundMe to help with funeral costs and other expenses. He described Daniel as "very funny and friendly" and said he was not just a brother but also a godfather to Vlad's daughter. "We feel a lot of pain and it's traumatic," he said.
