The Omani driver of the Mwasalat was driving at 94kph – more than double the 40kph limit on Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Road – and did not pay attention to traffic signs when he drove on to a lane with a height constraint, the Dubai police has said. 

The bus was travelling on Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Road, carrying 31 passengers, when it crashed into a signboard at Al Rashidiya exit at 5.40pm on June 6 killing 17 people. 

Thirteen other passengers were also seriously injured in the road crash.

The tourist bus was carrying 31 passengers of different nationalities travelling from Oman to Dubai, and crashed in to a signboard at Al Rashidiya exit towards the metro station at 5.40pm.

The 53-year-old driver was referred to Traffic Court over charges of wrongly causing death to the 17 passengers and injuring 13 others, Prosecutor Salah Bu Farousha Al Felasi, director of Traffic Prosecution said.

While being treated for his injuries at that time, the driver’s son spoke to Gulf News saying, ““I don’t know what exactly happened. He said he couldn’t see the height barrier and couldn’t stop the bus in time.”