JEDDAH, 21 July 2005 — Seventeen people died in a tragic traffic accident on the Al-Laith-Makkah Highway. None of those killed had a legal residency permit.
The driver of the minibus carrying the overstayers was trying to smuggle them to Makkah. He was confused when he saw a police checkpoint ahead of him and lost control of his vehicle. Eyewitnesses said the driver crashed into three trucks coming from the opposite side.
The only survivor of the accident, Nizar Awad, is from Sudan and is 26 years old. He was given prompt treatment in a nearby hospital before he was released to police custody for investigation.
Doctors at the hospital were not able to reveal the identity of many of the victims because their bodies were cut to pieces.
All bodies were transported to King Abdul Aziz Hospital in Jeddah and will remain there until they are identified.
