UAE | Traffic and Transport

Witness accounts: Shaikh Zayed Road crash

At least nine people have been killed and more than 50 injured after a minivan crashed into a bus which had lost control and ploughed through the central reservation and into oncoming traffic.

  • Gulf News Web Report
  • Published: 00:00 December 14, 2006
  • Gulf News

  • All three buses were carrying labourers.
  • Image Credit: Tracy Brand/Gulf News
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Dubai: At least nine people have been killed after an accident involving three buses on the Shaikh Zayed Road this morning.

More than 50 people were also injured in the crash, which happened on the Abu Dhabi bound carriageway of the Shaikh Zayed Road, near Mall of the Emirates.

All three buses were carrying labourers.

Dubai Police said that the accident happened before 7am after a bus heading in the direction of Dubai lost control.

The bus then turned over, crashed through the central reservation barrier and into oncoming traffic on the Abu Dhabi bound carriageway.

The minivan, which was travelling towards Abu Dhabi then crashed into the overturned bus.

The Rashid Hospital trauma unit said at least five people were seriously hurt, with more than 50 people injured in total.

The dead men are believed to be Chinese and Indian.

Helicopters were called to the scene to transport the injured to hospitals across the city.

Traffic tailed back for several kilometers as the emergency services had to cut people free from the wreckage.

Did you see the accident this morning or get stuck in the tailbacks? Send us your experiences and emails.


Your comments


We were in another bus when we heard the news. Our driver took us to another route to avoid the massive traffic jam. Rumours also spread at first that school children were in the bus that was involved in the accident. I was shocked. Action should be taken against reckless drivers because their mistake can kill innocent people.
Maria
Dubai,UAE

I was caught in the traffic jam at 8:30 am, but was quite pleased to see that nobody cut across the yellow line onto the emergency lane. Quite a few people took the available exits and went back into Jumeirah (I was one of them) but nobody abused the emergency lane, which was good to see.
Laurie
Dubai,UAE

I was driving on the adjacent road when I saw four ambulances rushing towards the scene. I was horrified to see a bus overturned and a van smashed into it. There was blood scattered on the road.
Daniel
Dubai,UAE

I was on the other side of the road in the morning and saw the helicopters landing and silently said a prayer for those involved in the accident. This senseless loss of life is unacceptable and I would request the authorities to develop a 'zero tolerance' attitude for this recklessness.
F Shaikh
Dubai,UAE

The site of the crash was horrific. Motorists should be careful while driving in wet weather. They should drive much slower, bearing in mind that the roads are slippery, while maintaining a safe distance. With a bit of road sense we can definitely avert crashes as fatal as this morning.
S Pai
Dubai,United Arab Emirates

We were at the accident when the helicopter landed on SZR. Police closed the road while the helicopter landed, the wrecked bus was ahead of us. I also drive back in my country but when there is a bit of heavy rain, I slow down because I know that roads get slippery when wet. Drivers here should know that, but they still drive fast when it rains.
Rodney
Dubai, UAE,Philippines

I drive everyday from Sharjah to Al Quoz. This is the second accident that I have come across involving buses transporting labourers. The speed limit for heavy vehicles is much less compared to light vehicles, but it is not uncommon to see the buses speeding faster than the cars. It is far more difficult for a heavy vehicle to brake in an emergency when compared to a car. I suggest the police have a system to catch speeding buses.
H Lopes
Dubai,UAE

It is a very bad day for those people who really have hearts. I feel very sorry for the families who have lost their son or husband or father. Even now some action should be taken against companies that do not maintain their busses. May God give all the people power to help the people who are in trouble.
M Saleem
Dubai,UAE

I work in the same company which suffered the most from this unfortunate accident, the most worrying thing is these sort of accidents are increasing day by day despite the best efforts of the authorities. Individuals should consider their responsibility as well and help make the efforts of others effective in saving valuable lives.
Alam Zeb
Dubai,UAE

How long will it take for us to learn how to drive cautiously?
M El Cheikh
Dubai,UAE

It was one of the worse accidents; I am shocked. Please all drivers in the UAE, 'It is time for us to change our attitude and care for the city that cares for us'. Please drive carefully and ensure that we care for each other!
Pratap
Dubai,UAE

Life is given once, so take care of it. It is better to reach your destination late instead of not reaching it at all.
Kami
Gujaranwala,Pakistan

I was on Shaikh Zayed Road at 11am and there was traffic, I could not tell why until I saw the fence which was broken and some pieces on the ground. It was then I realised something bad had happened earlier. When I got to my office I saw the paper and was very upset. I wish there was something we could do with these motorists who drive terribly and put people's lives in danger.
Maryam
Dubai,UAE

It was really very bad. I was shocked when I saw the bus, ambulances and helicopters all over. It was terrible! I do not understand what the bus was doing in the fast lane. Why can't the traffic authority make a separate lane for heavy duty vehicles and buses?
V Thomas
Dubai,UAE

I think it is time to open our eyes and understand that we need to be very careful on the roads, and it is not only ourselves that we need to think about but also the safety of other people who are driving on the roads.
J Thomas
Dubai,UAE

I did not see much of the accident due to the traffic but it broke my heart to see this tragedy so early in the morning. I wish ALL drivers would remember that we are all responsible for human lives when we drive; it's someone?s Mother, Father, Son, Daughter etc. How would you feel if you lost a loved one?
Roshika
Dubai,UAE

Yes, I witnessed the accident and must tell you that the police reached there on time and helped so many people from that bus.
Layla
Dubai,UAE

It was really very bad, I was shocked when I saw the bus, ambulances and helicopters all over. It was terrible, I do not understand what the bus was doing in the fast lane.
Nadeem
Dubai,UAE

My request to all motorists is to drive safely. I highly appreciate the Dubai Police and the rescue team who where involved with helping at the accident near Emirates Mall and other places. I was stuck in traffic very close to the incident for 1 1/2 hours. I suggest to all drivers that when they see an ambulance they should give them right of way. They are trying to save important lives; this could happen to anyone. It was a bad day for those families who have lost their bread winner. May God arrange alternative resources for them very soon.
S Hidayath
Dubai,UAE

I was stuck on Shaikh Zayed Road from 7.15 to 9.30am due to the accident. Now it is 11.30 and the traffic jam continues. Just imagine, due to the carelessness of a single person many innocent people have lost their lives and thousands are suffering on the road. Speed kills.... that is all I want to say.
J Karicherry
Dubai,UAE

The police should be on the highway issuing on the spot fines for undertaking, for driving too slow or too fast or recklessly in a lane and for talking on mobiles! And run it in conjunction with an ongoing media campaign.
S Walsh
Dubai,UAE

These buses are very dangerous as they are old and not well mantained, and on top of it they drive very fast.
S Haqnawaz habib
Dubai,UAE

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