Teenager on the mend after crash that killed his brother

The Al Ain teenager has regained consciousness and is moved from the intensive care unit of Tawam Hospital to the surgical recovery ward.

The Al Ain Traffic Police announced plans to increase the number of patrols throughout Eid.

AL AIN // A teenager who was severely injured in a car crash in Al Ain on Sunday evening has regained consciousness and been moved from the intensive care unit of Tawam Hospital to the surgical recovery ward. The boy, SM, 15, survived the crash that killed his 18-year-old brother, who was previously identified as a friend.

He underwent eight hours of surgery at Tawam Hospital, much of it tackling numerous facial fractures. By Wednesday he was well enough to speak to police about the events leading up to the crash. According to a hospital source, he had been climbing from the passenger window onto the bed of the pickup truck just before the crash. On impact he was catapulted from the truck before the truck flipped over, crushing his brother and killing him instantly.

The family, mourning the loss of one son, stayed at the beside of his younger brother yesterday. "We are still dealing with this tragedy and are not ready to talk about it," their father said. The crash happened on the Al Ain to Dubai highway, considered the most dangerous in the Emirate because of ongoing construction, and was one of three serious crashes on the road during the same 24 hours. The same night, an 18-year-old male was severely injured when he lost control of his vehicle. He shared an intensive-care room with SM.

On Monday, a 38-year-old Pakistani man suffered severe head injuries in a bus rollover crash. He was initially admitted to intensive care, but two days later was moved to the high dependency unit. The period before and during Eid is when the emergency room sees an increase in the number of traffic accident victims, said the hospital source. Al Ain Traffic Police have planned a significant increase in the number of patrols during the Eid break, including marked and undercover patrols on duty around the clock, said Col Hamad Nasser al Baloushi, head of Al Ain Traffic Police.