Two people were killed and five injured after a 4WD rammed into McDonald's in Ajman
Ajman - Driver admits he had epileptic attacks four times previously and was advised not to drive
Published: Wed 20 Jul 2016, 6:53 PM
The driver who caused the crash accident at McDonald's in Ajman, leading to the death of two and injuries to five others, could be penalised by law, according to a legal advisor.
An official at the Ajman Police told Khaleej Times that during interrogation, the driver admitted that he had had epileptic attacks four times previously and was advised by the doctor not to drive. He said Sunday evening was the first time he had got an attack while driving. He added that despite the doctor's advise, he used to drive his car everyday and never expected anything untoward to happen.
On the hunt for accident photographers
A top official has said the police will not tolerate invasion of an accident victims' privacy by clicking photographs of the incident and spreading it on social media.
Advocate Huda Rostrum, said the act of shooting pictures and videos of the dead in any accident is considered invasion of privacy based on law article 21 of cybercrime federal law. The law will penalise the accused of six months imprisonment and fines of not less than Dh150 and not more Dh500.
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Following the tragic accident, officials of the authorities concerned have demanded federal legislation that ban the issuance of driving licence to epilepsy patients and those suffering from type one diabetes or any other kind of disease that causes them to lose consciousness.
They suggested that such fitness certificates must be provided every three months and that they must be issued from government clinics.
The police official added that an epilepsy patient loses consciousness when he gets the attack, and could cause injury to others. However, this would lead to legal controversies about criminal responsibility of the accident.
He added that according to the law there is a difference between a person who gets the attack for the first time and a person who is already diagnosed with epilepsy.
The person who gets an attack for the first time would be exempted from criminal responsibility, but will have to face civil responsibility of the harm he caused others. However, a diagnosed patient will be criminally responsible for the harm based on article No 348 of federal penalties law which includes imprisonment and fines. And an epileptic driver, who gets the attacks frequently, will be charged for exposing others' lives to danger.
Article 2/15 of the federal traffic law stipulates that heavy vehicle drivers must present fitness certificates from government hospitals to ensure that he is free of such kind of diseases.
Col Ali Al Musaibi, director of traffic and patrol at Ajman Police department said: "If an applicant confesses that he is suffering from any disease that affects his driving, we refer him to medical authorities that must issue him certificates or send letters addressed to us about his ability of driving," he said.
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