Driver who hit palm tree 'under influence of drugs'

DUBAI // A driver who crashed into a palm tree while under the influence of drugs was today sentenced to a year in prison followed by deportation.

AM, a 25-year-old from an unspecified Arab nation, crashed after ramming into the vehicle in front of him, heard the Dubai Criminal Court. He caused only slight damages to the other car, but his own vehicle swerved onto the pavement and hit a palm tree and a number of other plants.

The crash took place last February in Al Qusais.

Traffic prosecutors said the driver was under the influence of the banned substances Oxazepam and Clonazepam at the time.

The man was charged with driving under the influence, damaging property, and consuming mind-altering substances.

salamir@thenational.ae