One in three people killed when a car exploded in a fireball after crashing into an apartment block was identified as a handyman, MailOnline has revealed.
Jason De Belen, 36, and two other men had returned from a nightclub when their car pulled into a block of flats near Westbourne Park tube station in leafy Notting Hill in west London at dawn yesterday.
Mr De Belen and the driver were friends who took the third victim, a bartender, home from the club after he finished his shift.
Witnesses said the car spun out of control over a bridge and entered the building at speeds of up to 90 miles per hour – through iron railings and a brick wall.
The three people in the car died on the scene when the vehicle exploded into a fireball. Nine people were brought from the block to safety.
Mr De Belen lived in nearby Ladbroke Grove but had recently been moved to a local hotel after his home was damaged by a flash flood.
Jason De Belen, 36, was one of three people killed when a car exploded into a fireball at dawn yesterday after it drove into a block of flats. Mr De Belen has been identified as a craftsman, MailOnline can reveal
He and two other men had returned from a nightclub when their car drove into a block of flats near Westbourne Park tube station in leafy Notting Hill in west London. Above: The burned-out shell of a car at the crime scene on Great Western Road
A friend told MailOnline today, “Jason was a really warm, lovable guy. He was a family-oriented man who loved his nine-year-old niece.
“It’s a terrible tragedy, but details of what exactly happened are pretty rare right now.
Mr De Belen lived in nearby Ladbroke Grove
“He was a passenger in the car and he and his friend drove home after going to a club.
“They took one of the bartenders with you. I’m not sure if they knew him or were just nice and offered to take him home.
“But Jason’s family and friends are devastated as you can imagine. He is so much missed. ‘
Mr De Belen’s aunt, Estrella Hernandez, shared how his death was a double blow to the family following the recent death of his uncle in the Philippines.
Ms. Hernandez wrote on Facebook: “Our whole family is deeply saddened and saddened at the loss of our two loved ones.
“My brother Efren Garcia, who had an illness, and my nephew Jason Garcia De Belen, who died in a car accident in Notting Hill, London.
“It is so painful for our whole family to lose them in these difficult times. Our failure to look at our nephew personally brings us too much heartache and pain as we do not see him off at his resting place.
Local residents told how they tried to help those trapped but had to step back when the car “exploded” in flames. They said firefighters fought the fire for about 20 minutes as it kept re-igniting
Emergency services at the scene of the crime on Great Western Road, Notting Hill, West London
“May our prayers serve as consolation as they travel to our Lord’s Paradise. We love you both forever … goodbye … until we meet again. ‘
Flowers and a condolence card are posted on metal fences around the crash site.
Three simple candles were placed side by side in glasses on the floor.
Local residents told how they tried to help those trapped but had to step back when the car “exploded” in flames. They said firefighters fought the fire for about 20 minutes when it kept flaring.
A horrified witness, who lives across the street and did not want to be named, told MailOnline that a man was seen trying to bring victims to safety while shouting “Get me out!”. before her car went up in flames.
“I heard a big bang and knew it was a car accident, but I didn’t know how bad it was,” he said. “I came out to see what had happened and two guys tried to get their boyfriend out of the car, but it was on fire.
Emergency services at the scene of the crime on Great Western Road, Notting Hill, West London
‘They had the door open and the man was yelling,’ Get me out of here! ‘But they couldn’t get him out and ran away. The next minute the car exploded in a ball of fire – there isn’t really anything anyone could have done. ‘
The witness added, “I could only hear the screams of the guy who said,“ Get me out! Get me out! ” It must have been awful. It could have been my children, it could have been anyone. ‘
A Metropolitan Police officer at the scene said the driver came north over a canal bridge before losing control of the vehicle, which witnesses said could be a Seat Leon.
Due to the massive impact, bricks flew across the street and onto neighboring houses before the car exploded in “yellow flames”.
Brian Waldy, 70, a retired appraiser who lives in a basement apartment in the building next door, said, “I heard this big noise and at least 10 large bricks fell on the stairs outside.
Detectives from the Serious Collision Investigation Unit are calling on witnesses and anyone with dashcam footage to report the incident
“I put on my dressing gown and came out and saw the bright yellow flames enveloping the car – about three feet high.
“There was a man a few yards away shouting something into the car using the seatbelt lock.
‘But then someone else yelled,’ Get away, brother, it’s going to explode ‘so the guy went back and got out of the way.
‘Then there were at least two explosions, so I went back to my front door to be on the safe side.’
Detectives from the Serious Collision Investigation Unit are calling on witnesses and anyone with dashcam footage to report the incident.
Anyone who has seen the car prior to the incident or has information, videos or pictures that could help the police are urged to call 101, Ref. CAD 917/14.
