Dubai, United Arab Emirates— A high-speed vehicle crash on Sheikh Zayed Road in Dubai just before dawn on October 20 killed two people and left three others seriously injured, shutting down three lanes of the city's busiest highway for hours.
Dubai Police said the crash occurred at 4:55 a.m. near the interchange with Al Safa Street, southbound toward Abu Dhabi. A black Nissan Patrol, traveling at well over the 120 km/h limit, lost control, clipped a Toyota Camry, then slammed into the central concrete barrier and flipped. The Camry spun and was struck by a third vehicle, a delivery van.
Two occupants of the Nissan, both men aged 24 and 26, died at the scene. Their vehicle was torn in half. Three people in the Camry — a family returning from the airport — were taken to Rashid Hospital Trauma Center with critical injuries, including head trauma and internal bleeding. Gulf News reported the driver of the delivery van escaped with minor injuries.
Speed remains the core issue. Sheikh Zayed Road is 12 lanes wide, straight, and deceptively smooth at night. Dubai Police data shows high-speed crashes account for 38 percent of fatalities on the road. A traffic patrol officer said, "At that hour, the road is empty. Drivers think they own it. This Patrol was doing 180, maybe more. No seatbelt in the rear. That is why they died."
Witnesses said the Nissan had been weaving through traffic moments before the crash, racing another vehicle that fled the scene. Police said they are reviewing CCTV footage from Salik gates and overpasses to identify the second car. The force's radar logs show the Nissan triggered two speed cameras in the previous 10 minutes.
Dubai Police closed lanes 3, 4, and 5 southbound for forensic mapping. Debris was scattered over 200 meters. Oil and fuel slicks made the road treacherous. Traffic was diverted via Al Wasl Road, causing delays that stretched to Business Bay by 7 a.m.
The crash comes amid a crackdown. Dubai announced last month it would impound vehicles caught exceeding 140 km/h by 30 km/h or more for 60 days and impose fines of 2,000 dirhams. Yet enforcement remains patchy during early morning hours. A transport consultant said, "Cameras catch speed, but they don't stop it. You need average-speed enforcement, not single-point flashes."
All five victims were UAE residents. Nationalities have not been released pending family notification. The delivery van driver is assisting police.
The vehicles have been towed to Al Qusais impound yard. The investigation is ongoing.
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