JEDDAH: People are divided over whether a Lexus car really crashed over the barrier of a flyover into the murky depths of Arbaeen Lagoon, especially now that for the third day running search teams have come up with little more than the muck that covers the divers’ suits.
The Saudi Geological Survey (SGS) has got involved, yet nothing has come off the search operation.
“We dispatched the geological survey team to assist the Border Guard officers,” said Mohammed Al-Qahtani, head of Jeddah’s Traffic Department.
“They will survey the area and pinpoint possible locations where the vehicle might have submerged and then divers will try to search those points,” said the officer.
The SGS team is armed with the latest equipment that can detect metal submerged in water.
The mystery surrounding this incident has attracted gawkers to watch rescue boats and discuss when and if a car would emerge from the waters. “I wanted to finish my exam quickly to see that car coming out of the water,” said one high school student milling about with others near the shores of the lagoon.
One Border Guard officer, who didn’t want his name published, confirmed that there has been no sign of the vehicle that eyewitnesses reported seeing fall into the water following a collision with another Lexus.
“We are using sonar radars to locate the car but we have not been successful yet,” said the officer.
Both of the vehicles reported to have involved in the collision were said to be Lexuses.
The driver of the Lexus that allegedly slammed into the other, sending it into the lagoon, was hospitalized on Friday under police custody.
Because there are numerous eyewitnesses, officials are still treating this as a search operation.
Officials, however, have not reported seeing any bubbles or oil slicks that would indicate leakage from a recently submerged vehicle.
