Fujairah crash: UAE prosecutors probe two accidents that left 14 dead

The UAE Public Prosecution has launched an investigation into two separate accidents in Fujairah that resulted in 14 fatalities and 30 injuries. According to the news agency Wam, the incidents occurred on November 12, early Thursday, on Sheikh Khalifa Road. Dr Hamad Saif Al Shamsi, the UAE Attorney General, directed a team of prosecutors to the scene immediately to examine the situation and take appropriate legal measures.

The initial findings indicate that two accidents took place consecutively where the right lane was under maintenance. In the first incident, a vehicle struck a stationary truck, while in the second, a truck carrying two shipping containers collided with several vehicles before overturning. The authorities have seized the truck and damaged vehicles for investigation and technical assessments, including brake inspections.

They have also requested data from tracking and speed-recording systems to determine technical causes and assess compliance with road safety regulations. The driver of the truck involved in the second accident was questioned and subsequently placed in pretrial detention. Security arrangements are in place for his hospitalization, with his passport, driving license, and a lab sample collected for further analysis.

To identify the victims, forensic examinations and DNA tests are being conducted, comparing samples from the families of the deceased. The injured have been discharged, with 15 of the 30 released from the hospital. The victims include Emirati nationals and individuals from Oman, India, Brazil, Pakistan, Jordan, and Egypt. The investigation is ongoing, aiming to ascertain if any road safety violations contributed to the tragedy.

Authorities have pledged condolences to the families of the deceased and pledged to fully investigate the incident to determine the exact circumstances surrounding the event.