Drag racer was not being chased by patrol car, Sharjah police say

An Emirati who died after losing control of his car during a drag race was not being chased by police, a chief officer has said.

SHARJAH // An Emirati who died after losing control of his car during a drag race was not being chased by police, a chief officer said yesterday.

Social media networks circulated rumours that SHK, 20, was being chased by a police car in Al Hamda at 11am.

Brig Humaid Mohammed Al Hudaidi, director general of Sharjah police, dismissed the rumours on a talk show on the emirate's radio station.

"He was racing with another youth and their cars collided, not a police patrol," he said.

No details were given about the other driver.

Brig Al Hudaidi also announced plans to install speed cameras on a stretch of road where three people died after a crash in the early hours of Friday.

A 30-year-old Emirati, his daughter, 2, and son, 4, were killed when their car overturned on Maliha Road at about 1am.

The family's Indonesian maid was taken to Al Dhaid hospital suffering moderate injuries.

Brig Al Hudaidi said 26 cameras would be fitted along the road, with some in place before the end of the week.

"The first nine radars will be installed on the road this week before Thursday," he added.

A caller to the radio station asked why rescue teams took about 30 minutes to reach the accident scene.

Brig Al Hudaidi said crews were busy dealing with a number of other accidents and attending to injuries, which unfortunately resulted in the delay.