Dubai bus crash: Omani driver sentenced to seven years

Dubai Traffic Court ordered the driver be deported after serving his jail term, in addition to paying a Dh50,000 fine. His license was suspended for one year.

The Muscat-to-Dubai Mwasalat bus service struck an overhead height barrier at 94 km/h on June 6 at the turn off from Mohammad Bin Zayed Road leading onto Rashidiya Road, where it was due to make a scheduled stop at Rashidiya Metro. The driver took a wrong turn left not designated for buses which led to the height restriction, instead of going right.

Prosecutor Salah Bu Farousha Al Felasi, director of Traffic Prosecution, said earlier that the driver could not follow the signboards as the sun shade had obstructed his view.

“He admitted to lowering the sun shade and didn’t notice the signboards or warning signs, despite having used the road several times before the accident,” said Al Felasi. “His reckless driving, not paying attention to the road, and his speeding, caused the disaster,” he said.

According to Dubai Prosecution, there are two lanes for buses and taxis in the four-lane road leading to the entrance of Al Rashidiya Metro station. There are also flashing light signboards about 342 metres from the location of the accident to warn drivers of the upcoming height restriction, speed bumps, and two big signboards to warn drivers to stay in lane before the barrier.

After hitting the barrier at 94 km/h in an area with a 40 km/h speed limit, the bus stopped 44 metres away from the point of impact.

Twelve Indians, two Pakistanis, an Irish, Omani and Filipina, were killed in the accident.

How the accident happened

The Muscat-to-Dubai Mwasalat bus service struck an overhead height barrier at 94 km/h on June 6 at the turn off from Mohammad Bin Zayed Road leading onto Rashidiya Road, where it was due to make a scheduled stop at Rashidiya Metro. Instead of going right, the driver took a wrong left turn not designated for buses which led to the height restriction, instead of going right.

Prosecution said that the driver could not follow the signboards as the sun shade had obstructed his view.

“He didn’t notice the warning signboards, despite having used the road several times before the accident,” said Al Felasi. “His reckless driving, not paying attention to the road and his speeding caused the disaster,” he said.

After hitting the barrier at 94km/hr in an area with a 40km/hr speed limit, the bus stopped 44 metres away from the point of impact.

Al Felasi said that UAE roads have high standards of quality and safety especially in Dubai with RTA putting up many warning signboards for drivers.

“There are flashing light signboards about 342-metres from the location of the accident to warn drivers of the upcoming height restriction, speed bumps, and two big signboards to warn drivers to stay in lane before the barrier. It is all the driver’s mistake,” said Al Felasi.

Twelve Indians, two Pakistanis, an Irish, Omani and Filipina, were killed in the accident.

Al Felasi said that the verdict will be subject to appeal within 15 days and prosecution will check the case file to decide if they will appeal the verdict.

Al Felasi praises Dubai Police:

Prosecutor Al Felasi praised Dubai Police’s efforts, especially those from Al Rashidiya police station and Major-General Khalil Ebrahim Al Mansouri, Assistant Commander-in-Chief for Criminal Investigation Affairs, for their meticulous investigation into the incident.

“The Dubai attorney general was at the scene shortly after the accident. He directed that a special team be established for a quick investigation,” said Al Felasi.

Timeline:

June 6: Bus rammed into the height barrier.

July 2: Omani bus driver appeared in Dubai Traffic Court.

July 9: Defence lawyers blamed the height barrier’s positioning on the road.

July 11: Driver found guilty.

July 25: Date before which the case can be appealed.