Speeding caused the fatal crash on Al Dhaid highway

Sharjah: A minibus that was transporting workers was speeding when it was hit by a truck, killing four people yesterday.

Four people were killed and 17 sustained serious and moderate injuries in a traffic accident near the Al Zubair area, police said. Three people died on the spot and one died while being operated on at Al Qasimi hospital.

Three are now in the intensive care unit fighting for their lives and six others have already been discharged. They suffered minor injuries.

Police said the incident occurred at about 6am when the workers were heading to their work site of a contracting company. The accident happened on interchange No 7 on the Sharjah-Al Dhaid road when a heavy vehicle hit the minibus.

Police said the vehicle that was transporting the workers was speeding and a truck was trying to drive on a side road. The minibus tried to avoid the truck, but another truck crashed into it.

Police said motorists use this stretch of the road because the other part of the road is closed due to construction work. Motorists do not have a safe alternative road to use. Hence they choose this sandy stretch to reach the bypass road. Heavy vehicles mostly use the road.

Identified: Victims hailed from Indian states

The four victims who were killed in the accident have been identified. The first victim is Ajath, a 65-year-old Indian from Kerala. He is married and has his family back in India. He had worked for the contracting company since 1993.

The second victim is Mandi Candal, born in 1982. He is also from Kerala and worked for the same contracting company.

The third victim is a construction worker identified as Rankarasu, a 27-year-old from Tamil Nadu .

The fourth victim is the driver of the bus identified as Thomas, a 56-year-old Indian from Kerala. Thomas died during surgery in the hospital.