Family of Canadian killed in Dominican crash says weeks trying to bring remains home have taken a toll

Noman Hayati, an Edmonton man, died March 25 in a vehicle collision in the Dominican Republic. (Image courtesy of Ashan Hayati)

EDMONTON - The family of a 23-year-old Canadian man killed in a crash in the Dominican Republic says it took nearly a month, and mounting pressure on local authorities, to bring his remains back to Canada, raising concerns about both local processes and limited consular support abroad.

Noman Hayati, an Edmonton man, died March 25 after the vehicle he was travelling in was struck by a truck near Higüey, along a highway connecting Punta Cana and Santo Domingo.

His family says the car caught fire shortly after the collision, destroying his belongings and leaving him unrecognizable. The driver of the vehicle, a friend Noman was vacationing with, survived.

Despite providing DNA samples, dental records and all required documentation, relatives say the process to repatriate his body was slow and marked by shifting requirements and poor communication.

“Every day they made an excuse — the document is not ready, the test is not good,” said his father, Hamidullah Hayati.

“Then they asked us to send his dental X-ray. We sent it. After that, again, they made excuse for the documents.”

Complicating matters, Hamidullah said officials requested original identification documents, including a passport, even though the family says those items were destroyed in the fire.

“We didn’t have anything because the car was burned and all the documents were in the car,” he said.

Family members travelled twice to the Dominican Republic in an effort to move the process forward, saying progress only came after they were physically present and pushing for answers.

“They didn’t do anything until my wife and my brother-in-law went back there,” Hamidullah said. “Then they did something to put more pressure on the government.”

Noman’s remains are expected to arrive in Canada on April 24.

‘We haven’t really had time to process’

His brother, Ashandullah Hayati, said the family largely had to navigate the situation on their own, criticizing what he described as a lack of meaningful assistance from Canadian officials.

“The Canadian embassy over there has really done nothing,” he said.

“This is concerning the death of a Canadian citizen. They should really be there to help us move this process along.”

He said the family was told Canadian officials had limited ability to intervene.

“What they’ve said is that we can’t really help you guys. This is a problem between us and the Dominican government,” he said.

Global Affairs Canada said in a statement it is aware of the case and is providing assistance.

“We extend our deepest condolences to the family and loved ones,” spokesperson Thida Ith said. “Consular officials are providing consular assistance and are liaising with local authorities.”

The department said consular services are tailored to each situation but declined to provide further details, citing privacy considerations.

The family says the weeks spent trying to bring Noman home have taken an emotional toll, leaving little time to grieve.

“It’s been so distracting just waiting for his body to get here,” his brother said.

“Everything we’ve been doing the past month is just communicating with people to get him home. We haven’t really had time to process it.”

He described Noman as disciplined and driven, often working six or seven days a week after graduating, with a passion for travel and learning languages.

“He was really hardworking,” he said.

“He loved to travel and had more trips planned.”

The family has hired a lawyer and is seeking answers about the crash itself, saying they have received little information about the circumstances or whether an investigation is underway.

For now, their focus remains on bringing Noman home, and raising awareness about the challenges families can face when tragedy strikes abroad.