Bus accident on Sheikh Zayed Road hospitalises 42 students

Motorist made an extreme swerve from the outside lane to reach the slip road for a petrol station, causing the students' buses to collide.

More than 40 female students were transported to hospital after sustaining minor injuries in a road incident on Sheikh Zayed Road. Courtesy Dubai Police

DUBAI // Forty two female students were taken to hospital after a collision between two buses on Sheikh Zayed Road on Tuesday morning.

The two were carrying 84 students from Dubai Women’s College on a field trip to Abu Dhabi when another vehicle swerved in front of the leading bus near the Dubai border.

That caused the driver of the bus to brake suddenly, and the second bus crashed into its rear.

The 42 students were treated at the scene for minor injuries before being taken to hospital, said Brig Omar Al Shamsi, deputy director of Dubai Police operations.

“Thirty four students were transported to Rashid Hospital and eight were taken to Al Baraha Hospital,” Brig Al Shamsi said.

He said the car swerved from the far left lane to the extreme right to get to a petrol station.

“The driver of the first bus, who was on the right lane in front of the second bus, hit the brakes suddenly and the second bus crashed into it,” Brig Al Shamsi said.

The Department of Transport said the accident occurred about 10am before the Sih Shuaib exit.

Also on Tuesday an Emirati, 25, was killed after his speeding car hit a lorry and burst into flames on Emirates Road in Sharjah.

Emergency workers, who reached the scene shortly after receiving a call about 1pm, contained the fire.

The driver’s body was taken to a nearby hospital before being handed over to his relatives.