Two accidents choke traffic on Emirates Road

Emirates Ring Road was clogged with vehicles for a couple of hours last evening after two accidents occurred in quick succession.

A Sharjah police spokesman said both accidents were caused by reckless driving. The spokesman said in the first incident, two trucks crashed on the road near the National Paints Roundabout at 7pm.

A few people were injured and were taken to hospital. He could not specify the number of people injured, but said they received light injuries. It took police more than an hour to clear the road and ease traffic.

But just as traffic became normal, three cars were involved in a pile-up at the same spot. Police patrols rushed back. Ambulances took the injured to hospital, where they were discharged after being given first-aid.

The spokesman again could not give the number of injured. The traffic jam extended along Emirates Ring Road from Sharjah to Al Aweer in Dubai, exasperated motorists said.

However, the Dubai Police Operations Room said the chaotic traffic is a daily occurrence because of the bridge construction over the National Paints Roundabout in Sharjah. Motorists are delayed for hours on this stretch of the road during peak hours.

Police in Sharjah and Dubai have urged motorists to adhere to road safety rules as the number of accidents increases.