Motorcyclist hit and killed by taxi in Sharjah

Accident occurred during iftar rush hour, police say.

SHARJAH // A cyclist was killed instantly when his motorbike was hit by a speeding taxi yesterday around iftar hours, police said today.

The man, who has not been identified, was trying to cross the King Faisal Street intersection, police said.

Col Abdul Rahman Khattar, director of the media and traffic awareness section at Sharjah Police, said the taxi driver was speeding and could not stop, although the cyclist had the right of way.

"For the cyclist, he was visible, as he put on a [florescent] jacket, but the problem was speeding," he said.

Police have arrested the driver and investigations are ongoing.

According to a witness, it was a gruesome scene as the car hit the biker, tossing him over the roof and onto the asphalt a few metres behind the vehicle.

"The whole car was covered in blood," said Ali Kabwago, a resident who saw the accident.

It was the second fatal accident in three days. In a separate incident, a man burnt to death inside his parked car after it was rear-ended by a speeding vehicle on Al Dhaid Road and burst into flames.

The accident happened about 5am on Saturday near the Eighth Interchange.

Col Khatar urged motorists to be extra vigilant not to rush on the roads during the Ramadan afternoon rush hours.

Officials said most accidents during the Holy Month happened between 1 and 3pm, just after the shortened Ramadan working hours end for many businesses, and from 6.30 to 7.30pm, the iftar hours.