Sharjah: Eight people were killed and four others were injured over the Eid holiday weekend in two different traffic accidents in Sharjah.
Six Pakistanis died instantly after their car crashed into a metal barrier before bursting into flames in the mountainous valley of Wadi Hilu in Kalba. The accident took place early in the morning on Saturday.
The police report showed that the vehicle, a Nissan Altima, suddenly left the main road and collided with a metal barrier before falling into a pit and exploding. The accident was most likely caused by the driver losing control of the vehicle while driving at high speed.
Sharjah Police patrols, ambulances and Civil Defence rescue teams rushed to the scene but all six occupants were dead.
Their bodies were taken to Kalba Hospital for observation and further investigation.
In another accident, two people were killed after a car crashed into a group of six Britons who were walking on the side of the road in Sharjah’s Al Nahda area.
The Indian driver said that he was suffering from exhaustion when he suddenly lost control of his vehicle. A 48-year-old man and a seven-year-old child died.
The other four victims sustained injuries that varied from mild to serious.
Sharjah Police arrived at the crash site and all six victims were taken to Kuwaiti Hospital in Sharjah.
The accident took place on Friday at 1.15am.
The driver has been detained by Sharjah Police and has been referred to the public prosecutor in Sharjah.
With careless driving being the cause of traffic accidents during the Eid holidays, Sharjah Police have urged drivers to avoid speeding and to abide by the speed limit. They also warned drivers to take extra care when driving in mountainous areas.
Driving while exhausted was also highlighted as a common cause of accidents. Sharjah Police have called on drivers not to get behind the wheel while tired as it not only endangers their lives and that of others on the road but it also puts the lives of pedestrians at risk.
