Abu Dhabi - The accident was caused by reckless driving.
Published: Thu 16 Jan 2020, 3:00 PM
Updated: Fri 17 Jan 2020, 8:24 AM
- By
- Ismail Sebugwaawo and Ashwani Kumar
Six people, including five women were killed and 19 others were injured after a bus rammed into a lorry in Abu Dhabi on Thursday morning.
The accident, which took place on Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Street opposite Al Raha Beach in the early hours, was caused by "reckless driving and speeding," Abu Dhabi Police said.
The driver of a bus, a Pakistani national, died in the collision. A Nepali woman passenger and a Sri Lankan woman have been identified among the fatalities. The identities of three other deceased passengers, also women, are yet to be ascertained.
Police said the tragedy occurred when the driver of a car cut in front of a lorry without warning but the driver of the heavy-vehicle managed to avoid hitting the car. A second lorry behind it also managed to slam the brakes in the nick of time, but a bus collided with it.
A statement from the police said Falcon Eye surveillance cameras recorded the crash.
According to police, the driver of the car "confused the first lorry driver when he slowed to take an exit." The lorry driver applied the brakes in time to avoid hitting the light-vehicle, police said.
In the video footage released by police on social media, the second lorry can be seen braking and turning on its hazard lights. But the driver of the speeding bus rams into the second lorry.
Lt. Col. Mohammed Abdul Rahim Al Hosani, head of the Traffic Investigation Department at the Traffic Department, said the police operations room was informed about the crash at dawn.
"Police patrols and paramedics immediately rushed to the scene, rescued the injured persons and removed the damaged vehicles from the road," said Lt Col. Al Hosani.
"Some of the injured persons were treated at the scene in a mobile hospital while others were quickly taken to hospitals for further treatment."
Lt. Col. Al Hosani said traffic was diverted from Shaikh Zayed Bridge towards Al Maqta Bridge till the accident scene was cleared.
Major Abdullah Khamis Al Azizi, head of the Serious Accidents and Investigation Department, said the bus driver was speeding and failed to read road conditions which led to the tragedy.
reporters@khaleejtimes.com
E-Paper
Sign In
0°C 
