JEDDAH: A car was hit and crashed through the barricade of Jeddah’s Mina Bridge yesterday morning, plunging about 12 meters before hitting the water of Arbaeen Lagoon and sinking. By nightfall the vehicle and its passengers, believed to be a family, had yet to be found in the murky sludge beneath the water.
“The car and its occupants are submerged in the deep murky water of the lagoon,” a Saudi Border Guard (which includes the coast guard) officer told Arab News on condition of anonymity.
Eyewitnesses say the vehicle was a white Lexus that was driving at normal speed when it was struck by a mint-green Lexus. The accident occurred at around 6 a.m. on the well-traveled bridge near the downtown fish market and the Jeddah Islamic Port.
“It seems the car was being bothered and chased by the green Lexus that was being driven recklessly,” an eyewitness said who did not want his name published.
“The white car, which swerved to its left, broke through the flyover barricade and fell into the lagoon.”
The driver of the green vehicle was hospitalized for undisclosed injuries. His identity has not been disclosed.
Rescue officials spent most of the day yesterday searching for the vehicle in vain. The problem is the water beneath the bridge, about 12 meters in depth, contains a layer of sludge that begins few meters down. Between the murkiness and the current, the location of the vehicle has been difficult to pinpoint.
As Saudi responders, including traffic police, Border Guard and Civil Defense, tried in vain to find the vehicle, a large number of passersby began to accumulate.
“We do not know where the car is submerged and so it will take time,” said Saleh Al-Shehri, Saudi Border Guard spokesman.
The Jeddah Traffic Police were unavailable for comment.
