Khaleej Times

Guess who’s come to ATM

- Amira Agarib

dubai — A car crashed into an ATM booth at a popular mall in Dubai, causing minor injuries to its driver and a man who was withdrawin­g money. According to the police, “negligent driving” caused the crash that was reported at 10pm on Thursday at the ATM booth that is on one corner of the Burjuman shopping centre.

CCTV footages of the accident show at least five men inside the booth at the time of the crash.

They can be seen running for cover as the 4WD vehicle crashes into the booth. The motorist told the police he lost control over his vehicle as a car appeared in front of his on the Bank Street. The car ploughed through concrete barriers before crashing through the glass doors of the ATM and coming to a rest inside.

The motorist was not under the influence of alcohol or drugs at the time of the accident. He was not using his mobile phone either. Negligence on his part caused the crash.” Lt-Colonel Faisal Al Qasim, Dubai Police

The incident happened in seconds. We heard a loud sound as the 4WD vehicle crashed into the booth. The car crashed through concrete barriers outside the mall before it came to rest inside the booth.” Security guard, Burjuman

dubai — A motorist lost control over his vehicle and crashed into an ATM booth at a mall in Dubai late on Thursday. The accident was reported at the Burjuman shopping centre at 10pm and caused minor injuries to two residents, including the driver.

CCTV footages showed at least five men were inside the booth at the time of the crash. They can be seen running for cover as the 4WD vehicle crashes into the booth.

The police control room was notified by a security guard that a vehicle crashed through the glass door of the Emirates NBD ATM. When the police arrived at the site, they learnt that an Asian driver in his 40s had caused the crash.

The motorist, who is believed to have been speeding, told the police that he was on the Bank Street when a vehicle came in front of him. To avoid this car, he attempted to brake, but accidental­ly hit the accelerato­r instead. He ran through some barriers on the road and crashed into the ATM booth at one corner of the Burjuman shopping centre.

Lt-Colonel Faisal Al Qasim, head of the police’s general department of media, said prima facie it is believed that negligence on the part of the driver caused the accident.

A resident, who was withdrawin­g cash from the ATM at the time, sustained minor injuries.

The officer confirmed that the motorist was not under the influence of alcohol or drugs at the time of the accident. “He was not using his mobile phone either. Negligence and not paying attention while driving caused the crash,” LtCol Al Qasim said.

The driver has been referred to the Dubai Traffic Prosecutio­n.

A security guard at the mall told Khaleej Times: “The incident happened in seconds. We heard a loud sound as the 4WD vehicle crashed into the booth. The car crashed through concrete barriers outside the mall before it came to rest inside the booth.”

The eyewitness said the motorist got out of the car and waited until the police arrived. “Soon after, some officials from the bank came to inspect the damage. The police cordoned off the site and were here till 5am,” he added.

Another security guard said: “Fortunatel­y, there weren’t many people at the ATM. The few people who were inside managed to escape.”

An eyewitness, who did not wish to be named, said: “I was in a state of panic after the incident. However, when the motorist came out of the car after the accident, I calmed down as he seemed to be a respectabl­e man.”

 ??  ?? DRIVE-THROUGH ATM: People run for cover before the crash
DRIVE-THROUGH ATM: People run for cover before the crash
 ??  ?? A combinatio­n of pictures from CCTV footages of the shocking incident, which happened in just over four seconds. A big tragedy was averted as those in the queue before the ATM booth reacted promptly.
A combinatio­n of pictures from CCTV footages of the shocking incident, which happened in just over four seconds. A big tragedy was averted as those in the queue before the ATM booth reacted promptly.
 ??  ?? The accident site outside the Burjuman shopping centre, where the car crashed through the concrete barriers.
The accident site outside the Burjuman shopping centre, where the car crashed through the concrete barriers.
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