Camel killed in Ras Al Khaimah road crash

The driver of the vehicle was unhurt in the collision

A camel was killed after being hit by a car in Ras Al Khaimah, highlighting the dangers posed by stray animals wandering onto roads. Chris Whiteoak / The National

A camel was killed after being hit by a car in Ras Al Khaimah.

The driver of the SUV escaped unhurt after failing to avoid the animal, which had strayed onto the middle of the road.

His car suffered front-end damage in the incident in Al Dagdaga Road on Friday.

Last year, Ras Al Khaimah Animal Welfare Centre said stray camels wandering on the roads were a major cause of concern.

The centre said it received many calls about stray camels, donkeys, horses, goats and cows wandering on the highways, putting motorists at risk.

Owners can be fined between Dh500 and Dh2,000 if their animals cause a highway hazard.

In 2016, Two men died and a third sustained serious injuries when their vehicle collided with four camels on a road in Ras Al Khaimah.

Witnesses said they saw a shepherd trying to stop oncoming traffic so that his camels could cross the road, but one vehicle travelling at high speed came from behind and collided with the animals, killing all four.

During the same year, Ras Al Khaimah authorities built an underpass in Al Shuhada Road for camels in response to around 213 accidents reported in 2015 that involved stray animals in the northern emirate.