ABU DHABI, 12 March 2008 — Around 200 cars were involved in one of the worst pileups that the UAE has witnessed.
The series of accidents, which occurred yesterday morning on the Abu Dhabi-Dubai Highway, claimed three lives.
Abu Dhabi Police said that 277 people were injured in the accident of which 15 were still in critical condition. According to the police, thick fog and poor visibility caused the accident.
Eyewitnesses reported seeing chaotic scenes as vehicles slammed into each other before going up in flames. Ambulances and police cars battled to reach the injured as wrecked vehicles obstructed the way.
Speaking to Arab News, Abdullah, who was driving from Abu Dhabi to Dubai, said the scene was reminiscent of a bomb explosion site.
“It was not just a single accident but around three major ones,” he said. “The scene of the accident was spread across a vast area.”
Another eyewitness said that some of the cars had been charred beyond recognition.
Minister of Interior Lt. Gen. Sheikh Saif ibn Zayed Al-Nahyan offered condolences to the families of the dead.
Undersecretary of the Ministry of Interior Lt. Gen. Saif Abdullah Al-Shaffar blamed irresponsible drivers for the pileup.
“Motorists should not speed when it is foggy and you can barely see 200 meters in front of you,” he said.
