Boy, 4, dead after ‘unheeding driver rams truck into family’

An Asian truck driver, who was apparently using his mobile phone while driving, has been arrested for reckless driving that caused the death of a Bahraini child. Two others were injured in the tragic accident, which occurred in the Northern Governorate on Sunday. According to the Traffic Prosecution, the 36-year-old driver was busy using his mobile phone while driving a garbage truck in one of the remote routes of Malkiya Village near Hamad Town. 

The Prosecution confirmed that the man was totally careless while driving. The first victim, a four-yearold boy, was announced dead on the spot, while his six-yearold brother and mother escaped with injuries. Traffic Prosecution Chief Prosecutor Abdulhadi Al Asfoor said a probe has begun into the incident. The suspect was interrogated and his detention pending further probe has been ordered.

Mr Al Asfoor confirmed in a statement issued here yesterday that the case would be referred to the criminal court once the investigations conclude. Identified as Ali Al Musalli, the deceased was yesterday laid to rest at Diraz graveyard, where hundreds of citizens attended the funeral ceremony. 

This is the second incident of a garbage truck killing pedestrians in the Kingdom in less than a year. Tribune reported in last May that a Bahraini woman, identified as Fatima Al Ateesh, was announced dead on the spot when an unheeding garbage truck driver mowed her down in Al Mussalla Village in the Capital Governorate, quite similar to Sunday’s accident. It was announced back then that the driver was detained. However, no further information on his fate was revealed.