Twenty vehicles involved in Ghantoot major pile-up

The traffic towards Dubai on the highway was completely at a standstill for several hours.

Another major pile-up of over 20 vehicles on the Abu Dhabi-Dubai Highway in Ghantoot was reported on Friday morning. This is the same stretch where a similar accident involving 200 vehicles claimed over 20 lives in 2008. Both the Friday morning’s and 2008’s accidents were caused by heavy fog.

According to eyewitnesses, the accident happened between 6am and 6.15am. The traffic towards Dubai on the highway was completely at a standstill for several hours. “There were lots of traffic and security patrols and ambulances on the highway. Air ambulances were seen in emergency rescue operations,” said Hathim Yaqoub, a local resident.

He added the accident happened about 100 metres from the Adnoc filling station in front of the Etisalat area office just before Samhah Interchange. “I could count more than 20 vehicles involved in the accident and saw several injured being provided medical assistance by paramedics on the side of the road,” he said.

Another eyewitness said it was extremely foggy and the traffic flow was very slow. “I saw many cars piled up. We heard there was one fatality and there could be several injuries,” said Abu Bakr, another expatriate in the area.

On January 21, a road pile-up near Al Raha Beach area led to the death of one and caused injuries to two women. The accident involved five vehicles.

Another accident involving 57 vehicles on the Abu Dhabi-Al Ain Highway in Abu Samarah injured 14 people earlier this month. The accident, according to Abu Dhabi Police, was caused by heavy fog.

nissar@khaleejtimes.com