Global briefing
- News that Mahmoud al Mabhouh, a leading member of Hamas's military wing, the Ezzedine al Qassam Brigades, was murdered in Dubai 11 days ago, has quickly prompted speculation that Israel was behind the killing.
You make the news
Send us your stories and pictures
Tourist dies in Corniche hit-and-run
Essam al Ghalib
- Last Updated: March 11. 2009 7:18PM UAE / March 11. 2009 3:18PM GMT
The pedestrian crossing, near Marina Mall, where the tourist was hit. Lauren Lancaster / The National
ABU DHABI // A French tourist was run down and killed yesterday on a pedestrian crossing in the capital, just 90 minutes after he had disembarked from his cruise ship.
Witnesses said the man was hit and killed instantly in front of the Marina Cafe at about 11.30am, as he crossed the street with his wife and a friend.
The victim’s wife and the friend, also from France, managed to jump out of the way, as the driver sped off.
Lt Abdulrahman al Buraiki of the Abu Dhabi Tourist Police said the driver, an Emirati, had abandoned his car, a BMW sport model, behind Marina Mall and fled on foot, but was arrested a short time later.
Lt al Buraiki’s department investigates all incidents in the capital involving tourists.
The victim had arrived in Abu Dhabi aboard an Italian cruise ship, the Costa Victoria, an hour and a half before he was killed.
A representative from the French Embassy confirmed the victim’s nationality and said he was in his seventies but declined to provide his name.
She said the victim’s wife would remain in Abu Dhabi while arrangements to return her husband’s body to France were being made. The embassy would cover the cost of repatriation.
The victim’s wife remained at the scene of the accident for nearly an hour until representatives of her tour company led her away.
The group had sailed in from Italy and was cruising the Red Sea and Gulf countries.
“This is a real tragedy for us and for his family, friends and shipmates,” a spokesman for Costa Tours said. “This is the first time such a tragedy has befallen one of our customers.”
The spokesman said the cruise ship was docked at Abu Dhabi Port and was scheduled to leave the capital at 5pm.
The travel company had arranged for a bus to take tourists to Marina Mall but the victim and his wife and friend had decided to walk.
“Our hearts go out to the victim’s wife and family,” said one passenger interviewed in Marina Mall. “To see your husband killed in front of you is a tragedy that is beyond description.”
ealghalib@thenational.ae
Please log in to post a comment
Other UAE stories
Your View
- Are you concerned with the standard of education your children receive?
- What would you like to see included in the new law on smoking?
- What can be done to ease the increasing cat population in the UAE?
- Would you hand back Dh5m if you found it in your bank account by mistake?
- What would you like to see in the new code of conduct for schools?
Most popular stories
- The apartheid will end when Israelis have to face its cost
- Dubai Metro's music causes disharmony
- Education faces up to double challenge
- Police raid illegal plastic surgery clinic
- UAE banks’ debt woes to grow
- For Burj refunds, go to Dubai
- New guide to being a better boss
- Hunt for mother of abandoned baby
- Interpol warrant for runaway fraudster
- Faulty lift to blame for Dubai tower shutdown
Added: 03/14/09 02:24:00 PM
majority of severe road accidents in UAE are done by emirates. who drive like mad hogs with out a leach,they drive like its there road... must be the arrogance not the upbringing...
keshan perera, abu dhabi
Added: 03/12/09 08:39:00 PM
Simply shocking. Cant believe this accident happened at the Marina Mall. There should be very stringent laws and speeding in public places should be dealt with seriously.
Syed Qamar Hasan, Abu Dhabi
Added: 03/12/09 01:30:00 AM
The traffic signaling system in Abu Dhabi really needs a complete replacement and updating - the gantry style signal at this location is totally inappropriate, and cannot be even seen on the final approach to the crossing or the stop line.
The crossing at this location should be a humped crossing, similar to Jumeriah Beach Road. In this case the driver would not have missed the light and the crossing - which is very easy to do at this location. The engineers and authorities have a lot to answer for in this incident, not just the driver.
In the US, an accident at such a poorly signaled crosswalk would see the road authority being sued if it were not to the state standard. Does Abu Dhabi even have any standards? And why is the road to marina mall 4 lanes wide anyway? It is totally out of scale.
Ford Desmoineaux, Abu Dhabi