AL AIN // A mother seriously injured in a road accident on Monday learnt yesterday that her husband and two of their children were killed in the crash.
The relatives of Mouza al Shamsi, 37, gathered around her in Al Ain Hospital to tell her the news and support her. Mrs al Shamsi's brother, Abdullah, said the family waited to tell his sister about the tragedy to allow her enough time to adjust to being in hospital.
"She has been sedated since the crash," he said. "But this morning we gathered around her and told her the terrible news. Her reaction was as any mother's reaction could be expected to be. But she is a devout woman and has faith and understands that this is Allah's will."
Mrs al Shamsi's brother said most of the family held no ill will towards the other driver involved, who is in police custody.
On Monday morning, Mrs al Shamsi was a passenger along with five of her children and a neighbour's child in a Nissan Patrol being driven by her husband, Khalfan Abdullah.
As they drove along Zayed bin Sultan Street and approached Bawadi Mall, the driver of a Honda Civic coming in the opposite direction lost control of his vehicle and crashed head on into the family. The impact caused the Nissan to roll over. Mr al Shamsi, 40, his son Mohammed, 10, and daughter, Mira, 4, were all killed.
Another son, Ahmad, age seven, suffered skull fractures, a broken jaw and two broken legs and is being treated at Tawam Hospital’s paediatric intensive care unit. On Tuesday, he underwent surgery to repair his jaw and both legs. He remains unconscious.
Also injured in the crash was Abdulaziz al Shamsi, 15, who was discharged from Al Ain Hospital on Wednesday. The neighbour’s child, Rashid Saif al Shamsi, nine, suffered facial injuries but is expected to make a full recovery.
An emergency room physician said that the injuries were consistent with not wearing seat belts.
A police spokesman yesterday said the family had been asked not to discuss the details of the collision as the investigation is ongoing.
Police would not provide any details about the driver of the Civic, who suffered cuts on his face.
ealghalib@thenational.ae