With translation from Heba Fahmy
An expat who was killed in an accident on the Corniche yesterday afternoon after a shipping container fell from a truck onto his vehicle has been identified as a British citizen, the UK embassy in Doha has confirmed.
Speaking to Doha News, an embassy representative declined to provide more details, as the deceased’s next of kin has yet to be identified.
However, according to Al Raya, the man was in his 40s.
What happened
Sometime before 4pm, he had been driving down the Corniche toward the Ras Abu Abboud tunnel/Sharq interchange when a truck leaving Doha’s busy port turned onto the street.
A witness told Doha News that the truck’s shipping container apparently shifted and fell onto the deceased’s vehicle.
Photos taken by residents stuck in traffic appear to show a crane being brought onto the scene to lift the container, which the Gulf Times reports was carrying scaffolding materials.
تجنبوا شارع الكورنيش حاليا. غادرت مكتبي ٣.٢٠ واكتشفت الان هذا عند المتحف الاسلامي. @Hassan_alsai@ahalqatar pic.twitter.com/JZmkfXSlhj
— حسن عبدالله المحمدي (@almohamedi1971) May 24, 2015
Trucks must use the Corniche to access the Doha Port, which is located near the Museum of Islamic Art. It’s the country’s busiest harbor and handles more than 100 vessels monthly, according to government statistics.
A new commercial port – renamed Hamad Port earlier this year – is under construction in Umm Al-Houl near Mesaieed and is due to open in phases, starting with a soft launch later this year.
This is the second fatal accident this month that’s raised questions about how closely safety standards are adhered to in Qatar.
A construction crane collapsed on Old Airport Road last week, killing at least one person and injuring three others.
A subcontractor had been in the middle of installing the device when it toppled over, according to the crane’s owner.
The company and police were investigating the accident, a manager told Doha News at the time.
Thoughts?
Innalilah wa inna ilahi rajihoon
Not when it’s an easily avoidable accident
Do you even know what he said?!
Was it, ‘the deaths at villagio was worse, Britishers always get the most publicity’
Lame. “We belong to God, and to Him We Return” (Muslim saying for when someone passes away)
How do you know him or his family are even Muslim? They may be offended by you saying that
Equally, they may also be offended at the sight of you trolling over his dead body.
My dad was not Muslim. My dad had friends from all over the world working with him and it’s so hard to know his death could of been avoided. II’m not offended by his words.
I do find some comfort in words about my dad.
Horrific…..this could have happened anywhere of course, but one suspects that safety checks on trucks coming and going from the Port here are more lax and haphazard than they would be in developed countries.
One suspects it because it is the case. Just look at the statistics. What’s the point in being so rich if you can’t even do basic things like make the roads safer?
the point is to get even more richer (sarcasm)
Mr Zaheer your version of Sarcasm cost my friend his life in that disgusting display of bad driving yesterday, tell it to his family and friends here and in
the UK am sure they will laugh with you.
Don’t waste your time John.
Sorry..deleted
Total disregard for safety and human life; Qatar aothorities need to improve on road safety as a matter of urgecy.My four visits over there have been absolutely hair raising to say the least.
This is very sad indeed – but it speaks to the point that commercial trucks should only have certain lanes and should only be allowed to drive on the roads during certain times. It does not help the truck drivers in large part drive like maniacs in sports cars and do not take their responsibility to other drivers on the road seriously enough.
The more the trips then only the drivers gets his correct salary, why cannot they have fixed salaries like peopl in offices,
is it normal to have port in the city
Yes but it’s not normal to have such haphazardness by those accessing it.
Safety is not paramount here because the people handling the jobs dont care less about the consequences of their ” i don’t care ” attitudes. The trucking company’s person incharge and the dtiver shoukd stay behind barS for their mistakes.
did the drives place the material from the dock to the truck to be blames or is it the material transferred in the dock was improperiate? any thing happens blame the driver, they heavy driver is made to work more than 12 to 18hrs a day, do u look into it, some thime they are staving to at the sites for w#hours to wait
I’ve handled heavy haulage back in my home country transporting huge power transformers to sites. The driver must know how to check and be cautious of safety when heavy things are loaded.
Of them working more than those hours like you mentioned — is not an excuse because everywhere around the world truckers do work long hours.
This is not blaming game — this is being at least educated and learnt and taking seriousness in any job that we do.
There’s too much work going on in a small city because of the world cup and the 20/20 vision its dangerous an d irresponsible to have so much work happening at once, roads being closed everywhere and cranes and buildings being demolished metres from the sidewals etc.. All these rail projects everything at once, doha is a very small place..
exactly.. and many places it seems the contractors have forgotten their pending work ..one if the road is at right side after holiday villa .. im seeing dug from an year or more..
That is very sad indeed … and now I know exactly why I always try to avoid driving next to or behind them … these containers are not secured by any means, and can move at any time – given also the way these drivers are acting behind the wheels … may his soul RIP, and sincere condolences to his family 🙁
That was my dad. I feel so empty.
My sincere condolences once again, I do hope that the pain will fade away one day …
But I appreciate your condolences.
The loss of life is always saddening… Especially when it happens to expats in foreign countries. Just heart aching. RIP.
How can they get away with not securing containers on the back of trucks? It’s basic common sense.
In three years I am yet to see a truck here with road worthy tires. All of them thread bare.
Saw one today, after reading this story, and noticed that nothing secured it to the truck bed. Gravity is not strong enough to secure loads..
I have just driven through the industrial area and was passed by a truck carrying a container with no locks engaged.
This is a sad way to die, a preventable accident. I wonder what will happen now.
It was the drivers falut. He has been arrested apparently. That was my poor dad who was killed in an horrific way.
Taken Yesterday on my way home…
your picture is better than Doha news’s picture ..
I travel through the port intersection twice a day and often see trucks speeding to beat the lights as they head towards Ras Aboud flyover and the loads are often leaning dangerously. Small cars also weave through the trucks as they too try to beat the red light. I blame the ‘me first’ attitude of drivers in Doha in general putting other’s lives at risk. Surely the truck driver must be facing charges now?
I often see drivers cutting in front of trucks and buses not realising how difficult it is for the driver to break but yes I also some crazy truck drivers who just refuse to slow down approaching roundabouts.
Only trailers with “Twistlocks” should carry containers. It’s law in the UK for this very reason.
Making it law here with a mandatory check at security on the way out would have prevented this accident.
It’s a bit premature to say what would have prevented the accident or not, what you’re saying may already happen, and should happen, what others are saying about the driver responsibility as well holds true, and I’m sure we’ve all seen this intersection in action, huge heavily loaded trucks taking a 90 degree left turn on a short green light.
Perhaps the locks were there on the trailers but they were not used and neither was the load checked properly if the container was loaded improperly and the heavy load was on just one side which would have had a effect in the container tfalling over
From the picture it looks like the tractor unit, trailer and container went over… so the twist locks were in place. Sounds like the load shifted inside the trailer as the driver turned the corner (probably too quickly as they race to beat the lights). Always steer clear of HGV’s on corners or roundabouts, accidents like this are a lot more common than you think.
This is a tragic and yet timely reminder that the situation in relation to a number of issues around transportation in Doha needs to change. Firstly the mix of heavy vehicles with normal commuter traffic, including over weight and over sized loads without pilot vehicles to guide them and control speeds causes near misses, congestion and fatalities nearly every day. Secondly the enforcement of over weight, poorly loaded or over sized loads in Qatar needs to step up and these vehicles should be subject to a permitting system and safety inspections at the port or source of travel. Finally the licensing system for heavy goods vehicle drivers needs review as does rules for how many hours they can operate one of these vehicles without taking mandatory rests. All of these measures are typical and found in the UK, Australia, New Zealand and the USA.
This accident happened nearly one year to the date at the exact same location in 2014 when a colleague and I observed another truck cornering hard and losing its load at the same intersection.
My thoughts and prayer go out to the family of the man killed. May he be at peace.
MIMH are you here? Please confirm.
Haha, no point commentating on another pointless death. Might get more publicity because it’s a westerner rather than disposable Asians.
Sadly this is true, in order for more change to happen, more Westerners must suffer as victims, only then is the media coverage sufficient enough to cause major embarrassment and drive change.
Actually quite sad, but I think things will not even change if more Western people die. The embassies just considered it a death in an undeveloped dangerous country. Then they argue that anyone who moved here knows about Qatar’s safety issues.
Has anyone ever told you that your attitude to death, regardless of race is disgusting?! You have no empathy for the family and friends of this man at all. As everyone is saying better safety checks of trailers, lorries, any format of HGV wouldn’t go amiss. I know this man’s wife and have worked with her for many years. She has lost a loving, caring husband! His children and parents are also suffering because of a lack of safety on your roads! Please think before typing. Your comments can cause the family more pain. Have a heart!!
I have hurt nor killed anyone. Take your anger and frustration out on the authorities who continue to let this happen despite warnings, the historical record of deaths and maiming in the roads. It is their lack of enforcement that is to blame. Posting what should have been done on Doha News will not change the situation as I doubt MOI read the comments except to arrest people who blaspheme
I was traveling behind such a container just the other day, in traffic, and had a chance to look at it – I could see no indication that the container was secured to the bed of the truck; I got out of there & away as quickly as I could, but I thought I was being paranoid. Apparently, I was not….
The twistlock handles are under the bed when locked so you normally wouldn’t see them – assuming the trailer has twistlocks at ofc.
The handles stick out when unlocked as a visual indicator, and there are normally at least 2 checks that the container is locked down before a truck exits the port, although I have no information on Qatar’s port procedures.
From the photos a.d.a.m posted it looks like the container was properly locked down.
Adam have some respect. Somebody died in that accident and you taking pictures of it and posting them online. Think if it was your father or husband. How at a time like that it would enter your head to take a photograph is beyond me. Shame on you.
What is the problem with the photograph? You can’t see a body in it. Where is the disrespect? Better to have photos, so that the truth is known – who knows, it might even be used in a legal inquest. Get involved, take action when something serious happens. That’s the only way to improve things.
Better check first the load of the container for safety road travel and checking all the locks.. Yet, safety driving is a must but how do you expect safety driving, when drivers think they’re on a race track.
i still wonder why they dont fix the container with the truck base, atleast like a lock system, its seems like the container was just sitting on the truck every time when i was taking turns i swear to god when i see the truck i am always thinking that is going to collapse on me…:( 😮
and i saw most of the times the law here to check some id cards and just break into the apartment or nagging some couple who sit in one table to have their meal. why the culture and the identifications are more important than the life of a person. i am not saying that culture is not important here at least they have to give the same attention for the safety of peoples life here. well everybody is here to work and give their knowledge to develop this country. but even those people who is working here has a family out there who is waiting to see them as a husband, wife, father, mother, son & daughter not as a dead body or just a news that they passed away in Qatar. Qatar has a huge responsibility here to take care of the people who they hired for their developments.
Asking for IDs from people having a meal? Since when?
well i saw in pizza hut bro.
the person who introduce him self as a CID and he saw his ID to Couple and asking their ID and their Marriage Certificates.
is that really necessary to have a marriage certificate to eat pizza ? i really wondered.
This was likely a scam. I’ve been asked for my ID before from men on the street as I was getting into my car, who had their own ID and said they were from CID. I ignored them (aggressively) and went on my way and they melted away.
Best thing to do. Tell them let’s go to the police station to sort this out and they soon disappear.
i’m sure the story would’ve been different if you’re black.
Seems to be a standing joke amongst 15 y.o. males here to introduce themselves as CID.
accidents happens but if you aware of safety you can save some life.
You forget, their culture is much more important than yours. They believe in equality, but not for all.
Deleted for stereotyping/attack.
I have seen these truck drivers run red lights where I had to break to let them through.
the container did not fall on the pick-up truck… the whole trailer truck itself fell on its side, the container part crushed the pickup truck.. it was flattened to the ground.. gruesome sight
I was just driving now and this guy in front of me nearly dropped some of the loosely attached pipes he is carrying. He had to stop on the side and re-attach them so that he can continue. If anything, this shows the lack of safety with many of these trailers and trucks. It is high time the traffic department starts taking serious action against them.
Yeah, that’s a daily observation in Qatar. I had two Ashok Leyland busses with completely wornout brakes, three SUVs without working brake lights and the number of people who’s kids were not even sitting on their seats but jumping around the car at 80 kph I seriously could not count. Just too much. One would think that the Traffic Police should actually ensure road safety. Honestly so far you have to admit they have not achieved any road safety so far.
What traffic police?
The ones that are too busy making money from speed cameras to care about other violations 😛
I was once behind a truck like this (though with less pipes, perhaps 15) that had THREE MEN standing in the back to keep them in place. Neither the men nor the pipes were otherwise secured.
What were you doing in the Industrial Area?
None of your business Marco 🙂
One would assume that the Traffic Police patrols the streets and when they see those trucks, they would move in front of them and then put on the lights, siren and the “Police – follow me” sign in the back. The truck would be pulled aside and the officer would say: “Excuse me Sir, could you please come out, bring your registration and driving license”. Then they would together walk around the truck and ask the driver to properly secure the load and only allow continue driving once the load is secured properly. If the driver is caught with insecure load for the second time, then there should be a 2,000 QAR fine. Why does this not happen in Qatar?
‘Cos it’s too much like hard work, and it’s not usually Qataris who are being murdered by incompetence. So ‘it doesn’t really matter’.
No Qataris usually kill themselves on the road. The biggest cause of death for Qatari males under 35. Shocking. Oh well inshalla
Deleting for stereotyping.
I believe what it should be done is a very strict driving exams for all drivers… not only to employ drivers with low salaries to reduce costs and these drivers are totally have no experience to drive in Qatar. This is ridiculous, if u use smart headed drivers and experienced ones, this will reduce all road accidents not only such accidents…
This is what happens if you hire modern day slaves who are so demoralised they don’t even check the quality of the work or worry about its standards. Tragic.
To be fair most of these guys hired were riding cows back home and then are handed keys to a truck with no training. Doesn’t take a genius to work out what happens next
… or handed the keys to a truck which their employer lost all interest in H&S after it was bought and put to use ! like so many vehicles here, nobody does anything but fuel them until the rum into the ground
This was my dad who was killed in the car. I feel so empty.
I am sorry for your loss, my prayers are for you at this difficult time. : (
Thank you x
Sorry to hear. There are no words I can’t offer at this tragic time.
Thank you x
My deepest sympathy to you and your family..your dad is a good friend of mine. Ive known him for more than a year now. I have a high respect for him. He will be missed..
I’m so angry that his death could of been avoided. I just pray people can learn from this accident.
I am with you..i feel the same way too.. let us pray for his soul..he is always here with us..
I’m so sorry for your loss. …I hope you and your family find the strength to go through this terrible tragedy. May he rest in peace.
The traffic authorities should put some safety procedures in place especially for the drivers and owners of this big vehicles. Most of the big trailers on the road at the moment are worn out units that have been sold and resold a number of times. Most of them have mantainance issues and you see a lot of them regularly being repaired along the roads on the highways. They should have well trained and decently paid drivers driving this vehicles instead of paying peanuts to this drivers who do a high risk job which directly affects the safety and well being of other road users. Paying them little as possible and then expecting this drivers to work 16 hours a day and more is contributing to such accidents
The pace has been upped because the World Cup projects are running behind schedule, and so mistakes are being made…….
Safety is a culture that takes years of research, regulation, enforcement, analysis, awareness campaigns, and money to develop, and there has to be a true value on human life – and that has to exist at every level in a firm from the man at the top to the guy who loads the truck and the driver who ultimately should be happy that his load is secure. That culture simply doesn’t exist in the countries of origin of most of the blue-collar expats. Avoidable accidents will continue to be unavoidable.
This has happened before. I’ve seen another roll-over at this intersection but luckily there were no fatalities. Vehicles from the port only have a minute or so to turn as the Corniche has priority. Trucks do move slowly but the reverse camber means loads are shifted to the right as they turn. A possible solution is to place a red light on the slip lane to keep waiting vehicles at a safe distance.
So often I see either poorly loaded trucks, trucks with loads that aren’t secured or trucks simply driving too fast. They barrel on to roundabouts or round corners and then this type of tragic accident happens.