The UAE Public Prosecution is investigating two accidents in Fujairah that left 14 people dead and about 30 injured.
The accident happened early Thursday, November 12, on Sheikh Khalifa Road. Several cars and trucks were damaged, according to the news agency Wam.
Dr Hamad Saif Al Shamsi, the UAE Attorney General, ordered a Public Prosecution team to visit the scene immediately to inspect the site, find out what happened, and take the necessary legal steps.
Early investigations showed that two accidents occurred one after the other on the way to Fujairah. Both took place where the right lane was closed for maintenance.
In the first accident, a vehicle crashed into a parked truck. In the second, a truck carrying two shipping containers hit several vehicles before overturning.
The Public Prosecution ordered the truck and damaged vehicles to be impounded for investigation and technical checks, including brake inspections.
They also ordered data from tracking and speed-recording systems to be collected to find out the technical causes and check whether road safety rules were followed.
The driver of the truck from the second crash was questioned and then put in pretrial detention. Security measures are in place while he stays in the hospital. His passport and driving licence were taken, and lab tests were ordered.
To identify the victims, authorities ordered forensic exams to find the causes of death, along with DNA tests and comparisons with samples from the victims' families.
Samples from the families will be compared with forensic results to help complete the identification process quickly.
Investigators are still taking statements from witnesses and injured people as the investigation continues.
Authorities said the investigation is still ongoing to find out if any road safety violations played a role in the accident. They confirmed they will take legal action against anyone found responsible.
The Public Prosecution offered condolences to the families of those who died and wished the injured a quick recovery. They promised to fully investigate the tragedy to find out exactly what happened.
What happened
Fujairah Police on Thursday confirmed that the accident, which happened shortly before midnight, involved 18 cars and five lorries.
The force confirmed that the accident occurred after a truck driver lost control of the vehicle, causing it to collide with another car, then veer off and strike several vehicles that were stopped due to slow-moving traffic. The truck then caught fire, and the blaze spread to several other vehicles.
Fifteen of the 30 injured were discharged from the hospital, with the police confirming that the deceased included people of Emirati nationality, along with a number whose identities are still being established through DNA testing. The nationalities of the injured included Emirati, Omani, Indian, Brazilian, Pakistani, Jordanian and Egyptian.
