Eight die in road accidents across UAE during Eid

Two collisions in Ras Al Khaimah account for half the death toll

Two deaths occurred in Dubai, where 24 people also suffered severe or moderate injuries.
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Eight people were killed in traffic accidents during the Eid Al Fitr holidays.

Two deaths occurred in Dubai, where 24 people also suffered severe or moderate injuries.

"The accidents ranged from collisions and pedestrian crashes to vehicles turning over," said Maj Gen Mohammed Saif Al Zafeen, head of traffic at Dubai Police.

An Asian truck driver was killed at 6pm on Sunday after he lost control of his vehicle, which overturned and hit the Dubai Club bridge.

The second death happened on Tuesday. "At 4am, a Range Rover veered off its lane and rolled over on Al Aaber Road," said Maj Gen Al Zafeen. "The driver died after sustaining severe injuries."

Other incidents in Dubai included an overturned minibus that left 14 people injured and a three-car crash on Emirates Road, near Al Manama Bridge, in which an Emirati suffered moderate injuries.

Three lorries crashed yesterday at 3am on the Dubai-Al Ain Road, and seven people were injured.

The crash was caused by driver negligence and failing to leave a safe distance between vehicles, police said.

Three Indian men died and an Emirati was left in a critical condition after a head-on collision on the Sha'am Road in Ras Al Khaimah early yesterday.

Staff at Saqr Hospital said the men - who were in a saloon that collided with the Emirati's 4x4 - died of head injuries. The cause of the crash is being investigated.

"Nobody was wearing a seat belt," said Major Talal Saleh, head of traffic at Al Rams Police.

Two of the victims, age 21 and 24, arrived in the UAE about 10 days ago, said a spokesman for the Karunagappally Association UAE, an expatriates group that is helping with the bodies.

The third victim, 42, had worked in the UAE for more than five years. All three were from Kerala.

The Emirati man, in his early 30s, was last night in intensive care at Saqr Hospital with severe head injuries, said Dr Yousef Altair, head of the accident and emergency department.

It was the second fatal crash in RAK this week. An Emirati man, 24, died on Monday.

One death was reported in Abu Dhabi. A driver died as he tried to overtake a lorry on the Abu Dhabi-Al Ain road.

In Umm Al Quwain, a European man was killed after he crashed into the bridge on Emirates Road on Monday morning.

Col Saeed Obaid Al Aran, director of traffic and patrol at UAQ police headquarters, said the driver was coming from Dubai and the accident was caused by speeding and not paying attention.

There were no deaths or serious accidents in Ajman. Col Shuaib Kajol, director of the emirate's traffic and patrol police, attributed this to awareness efforts by officers and road patrols.