Truck driver accused of causing deadly crash

Abu Dhabi: A truck driver’s negligence is to blame for causing a multiple collision on the Abu Dhabi-Al Ruwais road, which resulted in the death of two young expatriates, according to Abu Dhabi Police.

The preliminary investigations into the accident on Wednesday suggested that the truck driver hit a pick-up van from behind, the impact sending the van into the way of two other trucks, a senior police official told Gulf News yesterday.

Two Asian men died in the accident, said Major Suhail Al Mazroui, Head of the Western Region Traffic section at Abu Dhabi Police Traffic and Patrols Directorate, without revealing the names of the victims.

Thahir Abdullah, 28, and Deepu Gireeshan, 23, from the southern Indian state of Kerala died in the accident. The bodies were repatriated on Thursday night, a colleague said.

Abdullah from Kerala’s Kannur district, got married just three months ago and he was the sole-bread winner of the family. He is survived by his father, mother, wife and three sisters, the colleague said.

Gireeshan hails from Kerala’s Thiruvananthapuram district and is survived by his father, mother and a sister.

Their colleague Salam, 48, also from India, was driving the vehicle but escaped with minor injuries, the colleague said.

Abdullah was a merchandiser and Gireeshan was his assistant with a food supply company in Abu Dhabi.

The police official said the truck driver did not keep a safe distance from the pick-up van ahead of him. After being hit by the truck, the pick-up van collided with the two trucks before swerving out of control and overturning.

Further investigations into the accident are continuing, Al Mazroui said. He urged motorists to abide by traffic regulations like maintaining a safe distances from vehicles for their own safety and that of other road users.