More than 70 injured in multiple bus crash on Dubai's Shaikh Zayed Road

Dubai: More than 70 people suffered injuries after a multiple-bus crash on Shaikh Zayed Road in Dubai.

The driver of an RTA bus, the Inter Emirates bus coming from Abu Dhabi to Dubai, has been taken into custody, police said.
The collision was so strong that two buses caught fire and were completely gutted. The accident occurred on Shaikh Zayed Road near Ibn Batuta Mall.

A total of 74 people are reported to have been injured, 11 with moderate injuries and 63 with minor.

A senior official from traffic public prosecution told Gulf News that the RTA bus driver had not kept a safe distance from a car in front, which had braked to take a right turn.

The bus driver had to brake hard and was hit by a labour transport bus carrying 50 passengers.

Then a third mini-bus which was apparently speeding, hit the labour transport bus. The first two were gutted in the fire. The third bus was partially burnt.

Salah Bu Farousha, Head of Dubai Traffic Public Prosecution, said the driver's blood will be checked for alcohol.

Peyman Younes, an official RTA spokesperson, said, “We are very distressed about the crash and our hearts and prayers remain with the injured. RTA's first priority was to make sure that all injured passengers were immediately transferred to hospitals for treatment, and after that providing alternative transportation for other non-injured passengers.'' He commended the Unified Ambulance Services for their efficient support in the situation."

Younes added that there were 50 passengers using the RTA bus at the time of the crash and only one was transferred to a hospital for treatment of minor injuries.

He said that the RTA would give full support to Dubai Police during its investigation of the incident.

Did you see the accident or the fire? What do you think of bus safety in the UAE? Send us your comments by filling in the form below or click here to upload pictures.

I just passed the area where the accident happened. The scene was very shocking.
R M
Dubai,UAE
Posted: November 14, 2008, 01:37

I was going the other direction and I saw a lot of police patrols rushing to the scene. I often see a lot of people driving at high speed on SZR, epecially at night.
Tarek
Dubai,UAE
Posted: November 14, 2008, 01:07

It is one of the most important rule in traffic: To keep safe distance. Drivers should always keep this rule, not only for their safety but for the safety of others.
Jayeson
Winnipeg,Canada
Posted: November 14, 2008, 00:41

The greatest challenge here in the UAE is some drivers are still not observing even basic traffic rules like keeping your distance indicating when turning or changing lanes or observing road speed limits.
Ismael
Dubai,UAE
Posted: November 14, 2008, 00:27

I was in the other bus and I saw the accident. It made me feel emotional, seeing all those people who were hurt.
Amber
Mumbai,India
Posted: November 14, 2008, 00:25

i heard about the accident on the radio, but i think the bus drivers are so aggressive, those drivers usually taking off very fast, more training and checking on the drivers attitude should be, i experienced one bus accident on salahuddin st last year when bus jumped above 4x4 car caused death , i wish safe drive for all .
muhammed
Dubai,UAE
Posted: November 14, 2008, 00:05