More than 70 hurt in Dubai triple bus smash

CRASH CRACKDOWN: The buses incident came during a police campaign to make driving on Sheikh Zayed Road safer. (Getty Images)

More than 70 people were injured after three buses crashed and two burst into flames on Dubai's main highway late on Thursday.

The incident happened on Sheikh Zayed Road near the Ibn Battuta Mall and police said the driver of an RTA bus, travelling from Abu Dhabi to Dubai, had been taken into custody.

A total of 74 people were reported to have been injured, 11 with moderate injuries and 63 with minor injuries, UAE daily Gulf News reported on Friday.

The crash happened during a campaign by Dubai Police to crack down on driving violations on parts of Sheikh Zayed Road. The initiative has seen more than 1,000 fines handed out to motorists for a range of driving offences.

A senior official from traffic public prosecution told the paper that the crash happened after the RTA bus had not kept a safe distance from a car in front, which had braked to take a right turn.

The bus driver had to brake hard and was hit by a labour transport bus carrying 50 passengers.

A third mini-bus then hit the labour transport bus with the first two vehicles being gutted by a subsequent fire.

RTA officials said they would give full support to Dubai Police during its investigation of the incident.

Did you see the crash or have you photos of the incident? If so, email them to This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it .

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READERS' COMMENTS

Same law as ABU Dhabi
Posted by AUQ on Monday 17 November 2008 at 11:08 UAE time


I really hate the drivers who are driving the mini buses and small vans. Dubai and the other states should have a law similiar to abu dhabi where buses, mini buses and vans should stay on the 3rd or 4th lane.

Crazy Bus Drivers
Posted by Rainigade, Dubai, UAE on Sunday 16 November 2008 at 11:37 UAE time


It absolutely angers me that the stupidity of one or two people causes bodily harm to others on the road.

The bus drivers in this city think they are on a race-track and that they are driving souped up saloon cars.

I have lost count of the number of times a bus has tailgated me or has been in the fast lane, going 120 km/hr.

We've even been flashed by a bus on Emirates Road for going 90 where the speed limit was 80!!

The police really need to step up their fining and their presence on the roads. Perhaps then incidents such as these will be lessened.

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