Tuesday 19 / November / 2024
Muscat: Four nationals, including two children and an Ethiopian housemaid, died in a road accident in Haima this morning, according to the Royal Oman Police (ROP).
ROP said the fatalities were caused when a car and truck collided in the Al Khamham area near Um Zamayim in Haima in Al Wusta Governorate.
The ROP Air Wings Division airlifted three victims to Nizwa Hospital, while the two children were transported by an Oman Oil Development Company
ambulance.
The vehicle carrying the victims was coming from the Wilayat of Adam and heading towards Dhofar Governorate when a tyre burst, causing the car to cross into oncoming traffic and strike the oncoming truck.
Car splits
The force of the collision caused the car to split in two, killing those inside, said officials. The truck also suffered heavy damage, though the driver was unharmed.
Petroleum Development Oman, in coordination with ROP and Ministry of Tourism, announced they will conduct free checks of tyres from July 22 to August 2 this year, in a bid to educate the public about the importance of properly maintaining tyres, especially when travelling long distances by car.
The ROP also reminded the public to check their vehicle tyres, making announcements on
social media.
Some 2,100 accidents occurred in the first six months of this year in Oman, resulting in 336 deaths. The number of deaths has increased by 8.4 per cent, compared to 310 in the same period last year. Omani deaths registered a 4.3 per cent rise with 219 fatalities, while expatriate deaths due to road accidents rose by 17 per cent, with 117 during the first half of this year. Meanwhile, injuries decreased by 23.3 per cent during the first half of 2016, with 1,410 registered, compared to 1, 838 in 2015. More than two-thirds of injuries were registered as Omani, at 1,071, while expatriates reported 339 injuries.
The total number of accidents, however, decreased by 37 per cent, compared to 3,334 accidents during the same period in 2015, according to NCSI figures.
