Motorist, 19, jailed for causing accident in Umm Al Quwain that killed four members of same family

HSM, an Emirati, was also ordered to pay the victims’ family Dh500,000 in blood money, given a one-year driving ban, fined Dh500 for having an out of date driving licence and ordered to fast for two months.

UMM AL QUWAIN // A teenaged motorist was jailed for two years on Wednesday for causing an accident that killed four members of the same family.

H S M, a 19-year-old Emirati, was also ordered to pay the victims’ family Dh500,000 in blood money, given a one-year driving ban, fined Dh500 for having an out of date driving licence and ordered to fast for two months.

A Muslim has to perform the kaffara in order to repent for a committed sin or offence. For manslaughter the fasting is for two consecutive months.

The accident happened last Thursday on Sheikh Zayed Road in the Al Rashidiya area of UAQ when H S M’s car tried to overtake another car carrying the family.

They were travelling to their home in Al Muhathab when their car veered off the road after being hit by the other vehicle, before colliding with a barrier and a lamppost.

A man, his wife, her sister, and the couple’s daughter all died at the scene. The family’s six-year-old son survived with minor injuries and was treated at Al Dhaid Hospital in Sharjah.

H S M told the court: “While I was coming back from Al Dhaid, I was driving at a high speed in the left lane and there was a car in front of me driving between the two lanes.

“I used the lights to get the vehicle go to the right lane because the road in front of it was empty.

“After I overtook the car, it came back in front of me, and then the accident happened. My car was hit from the front on the right side, and the other on the left from the back.”

H S M added that after the collision, he saw the other car leave the road.

“After the collision, the dust erupted and I saw the car moving ahead. Then the vehicle stopped on the left side [of the road] and I saw the lamppost lying on the ground and some damage to the barrier.”

Talal Mohammed, from UAQ Traffic Public Prosecution, urged drivers, especially young motorists, to adhere to speed limits and drive carefully so as not to lose their lives, endanger those of others and to end up in jail.

“The driver does not own the road, the road is for everyone. They must take into account that on the road there are motorists and passengers from different ages and have to be patient because in a few seconds they may lose their lives and others’ lives.”

Mr Mohammed added that in this case of this tragic accident, if the driver had only waited and been patient he would not be in jail and the family would be alive.

He called for better awareness of road safety among young motorists.

“I hope what happened won’t happen again because in the UAE we have roads with lampposts, radars and wide spaces. So the mistake is not on the roads, it is on the youngsters who are not aware of how to drive.

“For this reason we have to make them aware from childhood before they hold the car keys.”