Woman killed in Dubai accident, pickup driver and her brother jailed, fined

Dubai Misdemeanour Court has convicted two drivers involved in a severe traffic accident which claimed the life of an Arab woman.

The court held both drivers, an Asian pickup driver and the driver of the vehicle which collided with the pickup, jointly responsible for the incident.

The pickup driver was sentenced to three months in jail and fined Dhs20,000.

He was also banned from transferring or depositing any funds, either personally or through others, without prior approval from the Central Bank of the UAE in coordination with the Ministry of Interior, for two years following the completion of his sentence.

Also, his driving licence was suspended for one year, and he was ordered to pay Dhs140,000 as blood money to the heirs of the deceased woman.

The second driver was fined Dhs5,000, had his driving licence suspended for three months, and was ordered to pay Dhs60,000 in blood money, as he was also found responsible for the accident that resulted in his sister’s death.

The incident occurred in January 2024 when Dubai Police received a report of a severe accident on the Dubai-Al Ain Road.

A police patrol and ambulance rushed to the scene, where a policeman observed a vehicle which had crashed into a small pickup stopped in the fast lane.

The policeman affirmed that the pickup driver and two passengers, including the woman, were injured.

The woman died at the scene, while the other driver was airlifted to a hospital for treatment.

Forensic analysis revealed that the pickup driver was under the influence of drugs at the time of the accident, while the second driver tested negative for substance use.

An eyewitness travelling with the pickup driver stated they were on the way from Jebel Ali to Al Ain when the pickup collided with a concrete barrier on the left side of the road.

On being interrogated, the pickup driver denied responsibility for the accident but admitted to drug abuse before the incident.

He claimed he stopped in the fast lane because he had crashed into the barrier.

The second driver stated he was travelling to Al Ain with his sister when he suddenly encountered the pickup stopped in the fast lane without warning signals, leading to the collision.

The technical committee’s report concluded that both drivers were at fault: the pickup driver failed to take necessary precautions when stopping in the middle of the road, while the second driver did not maintain a safe distance.

A technical report from Dubai Police’s Transport and Rescue Department affirmed the pickup was roadworthy and had no mechanical issues which justified its stoppage.

The court ruled that both drivers were responsible for the accident which claimed the woman’s death.