ABU DHABI // Three people of Asian nationality died and more than 50 were injured in a bus crash on the Ghuweifat-Abu Dhabi highway on Saturday.
The bus was carrying 60 people on their way back from Saudi Arabia when the crash occurred in the Abu Dhabi direction after Abu Al Abyad Bridge, reported Al Ittihad, the Arabic-language sister paper of The National.
Nine people sustained severe injuries and 44 others sustained moderate injuries.
One person with severe injuries was airlifted while five others were taken to Al Marfa Hospital. The 44 people with less severe injuries were transported to Mafraq Hospital via police ambulances.
A preliminary report attributed the accident to excessive speed, neglect, exhaustion on the part of the driver and a burst tyre, which caused the bus to swerve and crash into roadside barriers before it turned over.
Colonel Nasser Al Bloushi, director of the external roads department at Abu Dhabi Police urged bus drivers to exercise caution, observe speed limits and ensure the safety of their vehicles’ tyres.
The traffic department at Abu Dhabi Police declined to comment.
Security Media confirmed investigations are underway.
newsdesk@thenational.ae
