(MENAFN- Khaleej Times) Most accidents took place between Rawdat Al Reef Bridge and Al Shahama
Abu Dhabi — Twenty people were injured in separate road pile-ups in the early hours of Thursday on the Abu Dhabi-Dubai highway involving dozens of vehicles.
According to the Abu Dhabi Police most of the accidents happened between Rawdat Al Reef Bridge and Al Shahama.
While those with moderate injuries were rushed to the nearest hospitals most of them to Al Rahbah and Mafraq those with minor injuries were given first-aid by paramedics who rushed to the accident sites.
“Due to heavy fog on Thursday morning dozens of vehiclescrashed into each other in separate cases on the Abu Dhabi-Dubai highway leaving 20 persons with moderate and minor injuries” confirmed Colonel Hamad Nasser Al Bloushi Head of Remote Regions and External Highways at the Abu Dhabi Traffic and Patrols Directorate.
He added that 40 traffic patrols responded to calls about accidents between the Rawdat Al Reef Bridge and Al Shahama stretch. “The patrols were able to respond within minutes and were able to complete the process of accident reconstruction and clear the road within two hours” he said.
Col Al Bloushi said the directorate has implemented an emergency plan during foggy conditions in collaboration with the civil defence ambulance and rescue teams. “The plan includes restricting access to areas where accidents have occurred and providing alternative routes to avoid additional accidents or traffic jams” he said.
Al Bloushi reiterated his call on motorists to drive carefully on both internal and external roads especially late night until early morning to leave sufficient distance between vehicles to avoid over-taking and to avoid using hazard lights during fog conditions.
Two hurt in Dubai
Two persons suffered minor injuries in a six-vehicle pileup on Shaikh Zayed Road in Dubai and several minor accidents were reported as thick fog blanketed most parts of the emirate.
The Command and Control Room of the Dubai Police received 812 calls between 2am and 9am said Colonel Omar Abdul Aziz Al Shamsi Director of the room. The pileup occurred after the ninth interchange on Shaikh Zayed Road in the direction of Abu Dhabi at around 6am. Two persons sustained minor injuries and were treated by police rescuers on the scene.