ABHA: One student was killed and four others were injured in a joyriding accident in the southern city of Khamis Mushayt, which echoed a high profile stunt-driving accident in Jeddah in 2005 that resulted in the driver nearly being executed.
Asir Gov. Prince Faisal bin Khaled ordered the detention of the driver in the accident that occurred “earlier this week,” according to one local daily.
Muhammad Al-Shahrani, the father of two of the accident victims, identified the deceased youth as his son Khaled, 19. Khaled’s brother Hatim, 17, was among the injured.
The identity of the other three accident victims was not disclosed. The name of the driver was also not released, but he was reported to be in his 20s. Al-Shahrani is demanding severe punishment for the driver.
In October, Faisal Otaibi was sentenced to 20 years in prison and 3,000 lashes for a 2005 stunt-driving accident in Jeddah that killed three people, including two minors.
Joyriding is commonplace in the Kingdom, with teenagers often performing stunts in public places to draw the attention of onlookers, especially during holidays and school examinations.
Last year the Cabinet approved specific punishments for stunt driving: First time offenders will have their cars seized for 15 days and fined SR1,000. The punishments and fines increase with third-time offenders having their vehicles seized.
However, in cases where a death occurs the punishment will be determined in the course of the trial in a Shariah court.
Past incidents where stunt driving led to fatalities have resulted in prison terms of between six and 12 months and payment of blood money to victims’ next of kin.
