Motorists rescue taxi driver from wreck

Yasin Kakande

• Last Updated: November 16. 2009 10:17PM UAE / November 16. 2009 6:17PM GMT

SHARJAH // Passing motorists performed a dramatic rescue yesterday, pulling a taxi driver from his wrecked cab as it teetered on the edge of a bridge high above a creek.

According to police, the Emirates Taxi it was carrying no passengers at the time veered into the barrier on a bridge on Al Orouba road, between the central market and the fish market on the way to Dubai.

The barrier fell into the water, but the taxi remained balanced dangerously on the bridge. The driver was bleeding and unconscious, but motorists stopped and managed to pull him to safety without tipping the car over the edge.

Minutes later, police and civil defence rescuers arrived and the driver was rushed to Kuwaiti Hospital. He remained in intensive care last night. The accident happened at about midday when the driver was speeding and lost control, police said.

The road was closed for about an hour while the wreckage was removed.

Mohammed al Hosni, a spokesman for the Sharjah Public Transport Corporation, said that officials were investigating the accident.

Earlier this month, a 49-year-old man died in Dubai when his car fell into the creek at Business Bay after he accidentally put the car into reverse instead of drive.

ykakande@thenational.ae