Bus driver held in Sheikh Zayed Road accident

Prosecutors say he stopped his vehicle in the middle of the road to check on a blown tyre.

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DUBAI // A 23-year-old Indian driver, now in custody, stopped his bus in the middle of Sheikh Zayed Road to change a tyre yesterday at the start of an accident that injured 16 people, prosecutors said today.

"The driver stopped suddenly in the fourth lane from the right on a road that has seven lanes after the right-front tyre blew out," said Chief Traffic Prosecutor Salah Bu Faroosha. "In his testimony, he said that he he went to inspect the tyre for three minutes. Then the school bus arrived."

Prosecutors said the accident occurred about 7.25am yesterday. The school bus, carrying 30 pupils, belonged to Delhi Private School, Dubai; the other bus belonged to a company in the Jebel Ali Free Zone.

Prosecutors said school bus driver slammed on the brakes and skidded for 10 metres before crashing into the stationary company bus, pushing it 47 metres and into a concrete barrier on the side of the road.

"He will be detained for seven days pending investigations, which can be extended, and also while we are awaiting the final outcome of the injured persons involved," Mr Bu Faroosha said.

Eleven of the 18 passengers on the company bus were injured, while five passengers on the school bus were hurt.

The most seriously injured, the school bus driver, 56, from India, remains in the hospital.

amustafa@thenational.ae