Dubai: An Angolan driver has admitted to traffic prosecutors that he was driving under the influence of liquor when he smashed into a restaurant’s facade , killing three people and injuring three others.
Interrogations have revealed that the Angolan had 136 mg/dl of alcohol in his system at the time when he crashed into the restaurant’s facade around 2.40am on Friday in Al Barsha 3, said Senior Chief Prosecutor Salah Bu Farousha, Head of Dubai Traffic Public Prosecution (TPP).
“The driver, who is 21 years and three months old, would not benefit from the factor of leniency considering his age. According to the Penal Law, a suspect who causes an accident that leads to three or more deaths while under the influence of liquor, could face between three to seven years in jail and a fine. Three persons died up so far… we are still following up on the health condition of one of those who sustained critical injuries,” Bu Farousha told Gulf News on Sunday.
According to traffic prosecutor Hamad Al Ali, who carried on-site inspections, the defendant suddenly lost control over his speeding vehicle then veered off the right lane of the double-lane road, ran over a pedestrian and then crashed into the restaurant.
“We obtained footage of the accident from surveillance cameras that were fixed at a nearby hotel and confronted the defendant. The footage revealed that the suspect lost control over his car while driving at a very high speed, then veered off the road towards the restaurant. He hit a pavement, then ran over a pedestrian, who was thrown nearly 10 metres, before the speeding car landed in the restaurant,” said Bu Farousha.
God’s divine care helped avoid a bigger disaster as a sports utility vehicle had just left the restaurant’s parking few minutes before the crash, said the head of TPP.
Records showed that the suspect was using a driving licence that expired more than 17 months ago.
Traffic prosecutors have charged the Angolan driver with driving under the influence of liquor, killing three people and injuring three others and wrecking his car and the restaurant.
“A 21-year-old Brazilian female passenger, who was in the car with the defendant, sustained medium injuries,” he said.
Meanwhile, an Indian pedestrian was airlifted to hospital after a Pakistani driver knocked him down in Jebel Ali Industrial Zone on Thursday at 11.30pm, said Bu Farousha.
An Egyptian driver injured a 65-year-old woman after he lost control over his speeding car that veered off the Dubai-Al Ain road and ran into a group of trees.
Meanwhile, a Lebanese driver jumped a red signal and ran over a 15-year-old Pakistani boy and caused him serious injuries. The accident happened on Sunday near Dubai Bowling Centre around 12.45am.
