The Public Prosecution has ordered the pretrial detention of a truck driver as it investigates the accidents that killed 14 people and injured approximately 30 on Sheikh Khalifa Road in Fujairah in the early hours of November 12.
The driver remains in hospital under security measures, prosecutors said. They also ordered laboratory tests and the confiscation of his passport and driving licence.
Preliminary findings point to two consecutive collisions on the road towards Fujairah, in an area where the right-hand lane was closed for maintenance. In the first, a vehicle struck a stationary truck. In the second, a truck carrying two shipping containers hit several vehicles before overturning.
Prosecutors ordered the truck and damaged vehicles to be impounded for technical examinations, with a focus on their braking systems. Prosecutors also ordered the extraction of data from tracking devices and speed-recording systems to help establish the causes and assess whether road safety requirements were met.
The inquiry is proceeding under the direction of UAE Attorney General Dr Hamad Saif Al Shamsi. A team led by Haitham Ali Al Hammadi, First Chief Prosecutor at Fujairah Public Prosecution, went to the scene after receiving the report to inspect the site and begin gathering evidence.
Investigators are taking statements from witnesses and injured people. The relevant authorities have been asked to prepare a comprehensive technical report covering both accidents.
To identify the victims, prosecutors ordered forensic examinations and DNA testing, including comparisons with samples supplied by families. The examinations will also establish the causes of death.
The Public Prosecution said the investigation remains open as it seeks to establish responsibility and determine whether road safety violations contributed to the accidents.
