Lucky escape for four teens after SUV falls off UAE mountain

Ras Al Khaimah - Investigations are underway to ascertain the reason behind the fall.

Four Emirati teenagers, aged between 15 and 16, had a narrow escape after the SUV they were travelling in fell off a 5-metre-high cliff on the Yans mountain to the east of the Ras Al Khaimah city, late on Monday.
Eye witnesses and informed sources told Khaleej Times that the four teenagers were lucky as their car landed on its tyre first before flipping over several times on the steep rocky ravine.
“Two of the kids sustained moderate to serious injuries and fractures, while the other two escaped with minor injuries.”
On being alerted about the mishap, the central operations room of the RAK Police dispatched traffic patrols, ambulances, civil defence men, paramedics, and rescue teams to the site.
“Despite the tough terrain where the car fell, the rescue teams managed to reach the teens, pull them out of the totally damaged vehicle, and rush them to the nearest hospital.”
Investigations are underway to ascertain the reason behind the fall, according to sources.
Major Tariq Al Sherhan, head of the ambulance and rescue section, RAK Police, said they were informed about the accident on Monday at 7.30pm. “It took place on a mountainous cliff some 25km off the RAK city. The teenagers onboard the RAV4 car were Emiratis and based in Ras Al Khaimah.”
Initial enactment of the accident found that speeding was to be blamed, he revealed. “The young motorist was driving the car at a high speed which was not suitable for such a bumpy, rough mountainous road.” He was surprised with a sharp curve and lost control over the steering wheel, he explained.
“The driver could not stop the car as it skidded off the steep edge of the cliff, flew into air and finally landed on the Wadi Naqb valley.”
The teenagers were lucky since the car landed on its tyres first, and that significantly decreased the impact of the fall, he pointed out.
Few days back, four teenagers, including three Emiratis and an 18-year-old Pakistani relative, were killed in a road accident after their car met with an accident on Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed road. It also left three Emirati teenagers injured. Speeding, low air pressure in tyre, driver’s lack of experience, and carrying more passengers than the vehicle's capacity were blamed for the deadly mishap.
Police sources have urged all drivers, particularly the young, to be extra cautious on the road, observe traffic rules and regulations, and stick to speed limit. “Motorists must drive carefully especially at night and during low visibility conditions.”  
- ahmedshaaban@khaleejtimes.com 

• Ras Al Khaimah