Police officers and officials from the Commission for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice (Haia) were responsible for the death of a Saudi father killed in a high-speed car chase in Baha province, a high-level committee investigating the incident found yesterday.
The victim’s wife and two children were also seriously injured in the accident in Baljurashi that happened after the officers chased them on Saturday.
The committee said the officers acted on their own accord and did not heed instructions preventing them from chasing people if it was not necessary. It also held the Al-Harbi Company that constructed Al-Humaid flyover where the accident happened accountable because it did not take any precautionary measures to ensure traffic safety, said a report by sabq.org electronic newspaper.
The accident took place at 2.15 a.m. at the flyover along Janoub-Baljurashi Road, the report said. The victim’s Nissan Altima car overturned and went over the flyover.
The committee did not identify the victims of the incident.
However, a local newspaper said Abdul Rahman Al-Ghamdi, 34, died in the incident, while his wife and two children (aged three and five) were injured.
The committee said in its report: “Witnesses said the accident happened while the car driver was chased by Haia officials and patrol police from Shukran recreation center.
“The responsibility for this incident lies with the patrol officers and Haia officials involved.”
Action will also be taken against Al-Harbi Co., it added.
Baha Gov. Prince Mishari bin Saud, who said he would personally follow up the investigation, set up the committee.
He added: “I will also make sure that such incidents are not repeated.”
Prince Mishari emphasized the need for taking utmost care and caution when dealing with human lives.
“We have detained all persons involved in this incident for investigation and those who caused the accident will be prosecuted.”
Meanwhile, Baha Deputy Gov. Hamid Al-Shammari yesterday visited the victim’s children at King Fahd Hospital.
He received an update on their condition and instructed doctors to provide them with the best possible care.