Several killed in Emirates pile-up
12/03/2008| IslamWeb
In one of the worst road accidents ever seen in the Middle East, up to 200 vehicles crashed into each other on a busy highway between Dubai and Abu Dhabi.
Reckless driving and thick fog have been blamed for the pile-up during the morning rush-hour, and an investigation is now underway.
At least eight people were said to have been killed in Tuesday's traffic accident, and up to 300 more injured.
According to the Abu Dhabi police, everyone was speeding and after the first crash, vehicles started crashing into each other.
Some reports say 12 buses were also involved, and so many cars were involved that by Tuesday evening, police had still not released an exact count.
Osman al-Tamimi of the Abu Dhabi police department said: "More than 300 people were injured in the accident, of which 6 were critical, while another 39 were serious, but stable."
Al-Tamimi said the rest of the injured sustained minor injuries and were taken to Abu Dhabi's two main hospitals, Al Rahba and Al Mafraq.
The official added that more than a dozen cars burst into flames during the accident, turning the highway between the United Arab Emirates' two main cities into an inferno.
Another police spokesman said: "Everyone was speeding, and after the first crash happened, people just started hitting each other."
Investigating authorities have cordoned off the site and both Dubai and Abu Dhabi police were enquiring into the incident, till late in the evening.
The burning wreckage of several cars lay on the Abu Dhabi to Dubai highway, following a multi vehicle crash near Ghantoot, United Arab Emirates in which at least eight people were killed on Tuesday March 11, 2008.