McDonald's crash: Driver had drugs, not epilepsy

Sharjah - According to Ajman public prosecution, the police investigation and forensic tests proved that he was under the influence of tramadol.

The body of the woman, who died after a 4WD crashed into McDonald's in Ajman, was flown back to her hometown of Punnayur in Kerala's Thrissur district. The burial was held in the afternoon on Tuesday.

Rukhiya Usman, 47, was killed on Sunday night when a 4WD rammed into the restaurant while she was having dinner with her daughter, grandson and son-in-law. Rukhiya's two-year-old grandson Eshan is being treated in Ajman's Khalifa Hospital for injuries sustained in the accident.

Naufal, Rukhiya's son-in-law, told Khaleej Times that Rukhiya had come to the UAE on July 14, on a visit visa to take care of her pregnant daughter.

"She was staying in Dibba Fujairah with her husband and my wife. On Sunday, I picked them up from Dibba as my wife Rooshna had a check-up at Ajman's GMC. After the check-up, we went for dinner at McDonald's. First we planned to buy food and go home. But then we made the fateful decision and decided to dine at the restaurant."

Naufal, who has been in the UAE for 10 years, was at the cash counter when he heard a loud sound and saw the vehicle ramming into the restaurant. "It took only a few moments. By the time I realised what happened the car was already inside the restaurant, crashing the glass panes."

Rooshna was in the washroom, while Eshan and his grandmother had just returned from the rest room. They were sitting alone with Naufal's brother who had accompanied them. The vehicle first hit Naufal's brother, who escaped without injuries.