RIYADH: Nine people died, most of them children, and three were injured when two vehicles collided on Madinah-Hail Road on Friday morning, an official from the Saudi Red Crescent Authority announced in Riyadh.
"It was a head on collision 10 km north of Hail in the direction of Madinah,” Khaled Al-Sahli, official spokesman for the Red Crescent in the region, said. He added that the Red Crescent received notification of the incident through its toll free number 997 in the early hours of the morning. "We immediately sent three ambulances to the accident site, supported with medics and paramedics,” he recalled.
The Red Crescent admitted the three injured patients to the General Hospital in Hanakiya, and their condition is yet to be determined by the doctors. The bodies of the dead have been sent to the nearest government morgue to complete all of the necessary burial formalities.
During the holy month, many accidents happen just before iftar time, or in the early hours of the morning when motorists are rushing to beat the suhoor traffic. The traffic department has warned motorists to drive carefully during these times since everyone wants to reach their destination on time.
Director of Asir Traffic, Col. Abdullah bin Howeiz, said that traffic accidents increase before iftar during the holy month since many people are in a hurry. He said that the directorate is implementing a traffic plan to intensify traffic patrols in markets and surrounding Ramadan kiosks to ease congestion and organize traffic movement.
In addition to the recent collision, last week a horrific road accident on the Riyadh-Qassim Highway claimed the lives of 12 expatriates just before iftar. This accident was the result of a head-on collision between a bus and a truck, which caused the two vehicles to catch fire. Many of the victims were burned beyond recognition. Nearly 35 people have been injured so far this season, all of them expatriates.
"It was a head on collision 10 km north of Hail in the direction of Madinah,” Khaled Al-Sahli, official spokesman for the Red Crescent in the region, said. He added that the Red Crescent received notification of the incident through its toll free number 997 in the early hours of the morning. "We immediately sent three ambulances to the accident site, supported with medics and paramedics,” he recalled.
The Red Crescent admitted the three injured patients to the General Hospital in Hanakiya, and their condition is yet to be determined by the doctors. The bodies of the dead have been sent to the nearest government morgue to complete all of the necessary burial formalities.
During the holy month, many accidents happen just before iftar time, or in the early hours of the morning when motorists are rushing to beat the suhoor traffic. The traffic department has warned motorists to drive carefully during these times since everyone wants to reach their destination on time.
Director of Asir Traffic, Col. Abdullah bin Howeiz, said that traffic accidents increase before iftar during the holy month since many people are in a hurry. He said that the directorate is implementing a traffic plan to intensify traffic patrols in markets and surrounding Ramadan kiosks to ease congestion and organize traffic movement.
In addition to the recent collision, last week a horrific road accident on the Riyadh-Qassim Highway claimed the lives of 12 expatriates just before iftar. This accident was the result of a head-on collision between a bus and a truck, which caused the two vehicles to catch fire. Many of the victims were burned beyond recognition. Nearly 35 people have been injured so far this season, all of them expatriates.
