Ha’ia patrol blamed for death

Ali Samman
Okaz/Saudi Gazette

AL-BAHA – A committee that investigated the fatal accident in the southwestern city of Baljurashi following a car chase has squarely blamed members of the Commission for Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice (the Hai’a) and security patrol for the accident.

Abdulrahman Al-Ghamdi, 34, was killed when his car fell off an under-construction bridge during a car chase by the Hai’a patrol Saturday. His pregnant wife and the couple’s two children were seriously injured in the accident.

Maj. Gen. Muhammad Al-Hatlani, Director of Al-Baha police, told Okaz/Saudi Gazette that the results of the investigation would be referred to the region’s emir and to the Bureau of Investigation and Prosecution (BIP) for further action.

Following the accident, Prince Mishari Bin Saud, Emir of Al-Baha region, issued directives to form a special committee led by Maj. Gen. Al-Hatlani to investigate the circumstances that led to the accident. The team interviewed a number of eyewitnesses before releasing its conclusions.
The committee held the Hai’a members and the patrol team personally responsible for their action that led to the accident as they did not comply with official directives and ignored existing regulations when they decided to pursue the couple following a heated argument.

The committee said Al-Harbi Company, which is carrying out the Al-Hameed Bridge project, was also to blame as it did not put up proper signs to warn motorists.

The committee did not absolve the victim as it found that he ignored the patrol team when it gave orders to pull up. It said the car chase and the subsequent accident could have been avoided had the citizen listened to the officers. The committee however said this did not justify the action by the Hai’a members and the patrol officers.

Meanwhile, relatives of the victims have expressed their gratitude to the Al-Baha emir for his concern.