French driver accused of causing cyclist’s death after running a red light

Lawyers say traffic light was yellow when cyclist appeared 'all of a sudden' at intersection in Dubai

The man denied the charges and his defence team said the cyclist crossed when the pedestrian light was red. Reem Mohammed / The National

A French resident has been accused of causing a cyclist’s death when he crossed a red light.

The incident occurred at 10.10am on November 2 last year, on a portion of Sheikh Rashid Road, the Dubai Traffic Court heard.

Judges were told the 50-year-old driver hit the cyclist, who was trying to cross at a designated area.

The cyclist – whose nationality and age were not disclosed – sustained fatal head injuries in the crash.

Police charged the motorist with causing wrongful death and damaging property.

The man denied the charges and his defence team argued the light was yellow.

“My client crossed the signal when it turned yellow [and] not red,” Emirati lawyer Awatif Mohammed told the court.

“The cyclist appeared all of a sudden, surprising my client who couldn’t avoid hitting him."

According to article 25 of the UAE’s traffic law, a yellow signal allows a vehicle to cross with caution if a complete safe stop is not possible, she told the court.

Ms Mohammed said the cyclist crossed the road despite the pedestrian signal still being red.

She asked the court to acquit her client.

A date for the verdict was not revealed.