Tyre checks urged after blowout leads to fatal Dubai bus crash

The bus driver lost control of the vehicle after a tyre burst, said Col Saif Al Mazrouei of Dubai traffic police.

A crane lifts the bus after the crash in Dubai in which seven people were killed. Courtesy Dubai Police

DUBAI // A bus crash on Tuesday morning in which seven people died and 35 were injured has police appealing to drivers to check the safety of their tyres.

The driver lost control of the bus after a tyre burst, then collided with a lorry in the opposite lane on Al Yalayis Road, close to Dubai Investments Park in Jebel Ali, said Col Saif Al Mazrouei, director of Dubai traffic police.

The bus was carrying 41 people working for Transguard Group, a cash, security and outsourcing services company.

The employees were from India, Bangladesh, Nepal and Pakistan. Those injured were taken to Rashid, NMC and Al Zahra hospitals.

A doctor at Rashid Hospital’s emergency ward said it received six workers with severe injuries, including to the head and chest, and broken legs. Others were in comas.

“All of them received treatment and operations were performed on them,” the doctor said.

“Five of the workers who were treated at Rashid Hospital are still in a coma. About 10 people affected in the crash suffered minor injuries.”

Brig Mohammed Al Razouqi, director of Dubai Police rescue, said the driver and 21 passengers were rescued from the bus after being trapped inside.

Rescue teams were sent after the crash was reported to police at 8am. Hydraulic cutting equipment was used to free those trapped in the wreckage, said Brig Al Razouqi.

Accident investigators were sent to the site to determine the exact cause of the crash.

Poor tyres have long been blamed for road accidents in the UAE, particularly in the summer months when the hot road takes its toll and tyre maintenance is essential.

Many commercial lorry accidents are caused by unsafe tyres and wheels, according to RoadSafetyUAE.

Drivers should not exceed the maximum speed recommended by tyre makers, and correct air pressure should be maintained to avoid overheated tyres or dangerous blowouts.

Worn tyres with damaged treads or cracks and bald spots might not have adequate traction on the road, making braking and steering dangerous, the organisation advises.

All motorists have been encouraged to replace tyres every two years, or sooner if there have been several punctures or repairs.

Tyre air pressure must also be kept at the correct level according to the vehicle load, experts say.

Abu Dhabi Police say that last year 14 people were killed and seven seriously injured in 28 accidents blamed on faulty tyres.

Driving with expired or faulty tyres in Abu Dhabi is an offence punishable by vehicle impoundment and a Dh200 fine.

Dubai Police said that 37 people have died and 492 were injured in road accidents during the first four months of the year.

Forty-nine bus accidents have taken place so far this year, in which seven people died and 100 were injured.

Last year, there were 133 bus accidents, in which 24 people died and 258 were injured.