MANAMA: Bahrain registered its first fatal accident of the year when a Saudi woman passenger died in a car crash on Tuesday.
Preliminary information available to Arab News indicated that the 26-year-old woman was traveling with a 22-year-old Saudi male driver in the vehicle. The car was speeding near the Umm Al-Hassam area and lost control.
The woman died at the scene despite efforts by the paramedics to revive her. She sustained severe head and hand injuries. The Saudi driver was referred to the state-run Salmaniya Medical Complex where his condition is said to be stable.
Sources at the General Directorate of Traffic confirmed the incident and said the woman had dual citizenship: Bahraini and Saudi.
According to figures released by the Traffic Department, Bahrain reported 159 cases of fatal accidents caused by Saudi drivers in 2007.
Bahraini residents often complain about the driving habits of motorists from neighboring countries. However, traffic officials say Saudi women, who are barred from driving in their country but obtain driving licenses in Bahrain, are generally safe drivers.
