A triathlete has been critically injured after a speeding car hit him from behind near 390 exit on the Abu Dhabi-Dubai road on Saturday morning.
The accident was reported on the social media network of TriDubai, which trains triathletes in the UAE. Mehdi Karasane, an Etihad cabin crew manager, was training with three other members of TriDubai when tragedy struck.
Mehdi, who hails from Algeria, has been an active member of the TriDubai community, that trains triathletes in the UAE.
Mehdi is in the Al Rahba Hospital in Abu Dhabi.
"Another serious accident with a cyclist hit from behind by a speeding car," the post read. "This time at Samieh's forest, which is off exit 390."
The Facebook community added, "We wait to hear if he survives as he is currently in hospital".
A member added, “I don't get it... If we can see the potholes in the road, avoid the sand and the gravel, be vigilant enough to ride in groups with just centimetres between us ... How can the drivers not see a group of cyclists!! It’s so frustrating that yet another family has to suffer.”
This September, 49-old Roy Nasr, a Dubai-based triathlete and co-founder of TriDubai was killed after he was hit by a car near Safa Park during an early morning cycle ride.
The drunk driver who accidentally ran over and killed Roy has since been punished by the Dubai Traffic Misdemeanour Court. He has been sentenced for one-month in prison, his driving license suspended for three months and has been ordered to raise blood money (diya) of Dh200,000.
The Filipino driver, aged 24, confessed that he was intoxicated when he had crashed into Roy.