1 killed, 10 injured in fog-related accidents

Dubai - According to the National Centre of Meteorology (NCM), visibility dropped to 200 metres.

UAE residents woke up on Thursday morning to a thick blanket of fog that caused a series of road accidents, long tailbacks and disruption of flights in Dubai and Sharjah.
According to the National Centre of Meteorology (NCM), visibility dropped to 200 metres, affecting a large chunk of Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah and Ras Al Khaimah.
A 38-year-old Emirati was killed in an accident in Ras Al Khaimah.
"Fog, low visibility and inattentive driving caused the accident, which took place at the Emirates Road roundabout at 6.15am on Thursday," said the RAK Police.
The Emirati driver was surprised by the truck ahead and could not stop from ramming into it, according to a senior police officer. "He sustained gruesome injuries and fractures, particularly on the head, and bled excessively," said Col Ahmad Al Sam Al Naqbi, director of the traffic and patrols department, RAK Police.
"The 27-year-old Asian truck driver was driving in the correct lane and as per the speed limit but the Emirati motorist did not notice the truck at the roundabout due to heavy fog. The body was shifted to the hospital, while the accident file was referred to the bodies concerned for legal action," he added.
Col Naqbi advised drivers to reduce speed in foggy conditions. "The low light should also be turned on to signal other drivers and hazard lights should never be used unless there is an emergency."
Meanwhile, at least 10 people were injured as 68 vehicles collided in separate incidents on the same stretch of Abu Dhabi's Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Street on Thursday morning.
The accidents took place just before Ghantoot on Abu Dhabi-Dubai road and were caused due to fog and low visibility.
The Abu Dhabi Police, ambulance and civil defence rushed to the spot. The injured were taken to Mafraq and Al Rahba hospitals.
The Command and Control Centre of the Abu Dhabi Police received 205 traffic messages through emergency number 999 in Abu Dhabi, Al Ain and Al Dhafra during the early hours of the morning when there was thick cover of fog.
The police urged motorists to be cautious while driving and maintain safe distance between vehicles as there is low visibility.
The police also asked drivers to check latest weather updates before driving.
(With inputs from Ahmed Shaaban, Ashwani Kumar and Angel Tesorero)
reporters@khaleejtimes.com

• UAE