SHARJAH // An 11-year-old girl seriously hurt in an horrific road accident has not been told her father and brother were killed because of fears that it could hinder her recovery.
Aseel Muhammad is in a Sharjah hospital with fractured legs and an injured spine after the driver of a Chevrolet Tahoe fell asleep at the wheel and ploughed into her and her family as they were walking between homes celebrating Eid.
As well as Aseel, five other members of the British-Somalian family were injured as they were walking near Al Nahda Park.
The Indian driver was said to have lost control of his vehicle and veered off the road before driving straight into all eight members of the family.
Aseel's father, Muhammad Abdullah Musa, 48, and her seven-year-old brother, Umar, were killed. Another brother is still being treated in hospital.
A family member, who did not want to be named, said: "We do not dare tell her about her father and brother because the doctors have said the shock of finding out could have an effect on her recovery."
The family member added: "Aseel thinks her mother is with her brother. But in fact she is in total shock, so we thought it was best if the rest of the family visits to keep Aseel's spirits up."
Aseel is unable to move as her hands and legs are bandaged, but was conscious and talking in her bed at Kuwait Hospital.
Her brother, who has not been named, is being treated in Al Qassimi Hospital, where their father and Umar were taken after the accident.
Mr Musa and his son have already been buried. A funeral was held at Sahabah mosque in Sharjah on Sunday, two days after they were killed at 1am last Friday.
The driver told police he had dozed off before losing control of the vehicle and swerving off the road into the group of pedestrians because he was exhausted and stressed after working throughout the national holiday.
He is being held by police while they investigate the accident.
A spokeswoman for the British consulate in Dubai said: "We are aware of a tragic accident involving a family of six British nationals in Sharjah and can confirm there were two fatalities.
"We are providing consular assistance to their next of kin at this very difficult time."
The two victims were among 19 people killed in road accidents in the UAE over Eid, according to the Interior Ministry.
A Pakistani family of six, including four children, died last Saturday when their Nissan Altima hit a barrier before flipping over and bursting into flames. All six victims died at the scene.
Police in Dubai said there were almost 1,600 road accidents over the holiday in that emirate alone.
Most were caused by drivers ignoring road regulations and driving too fast, changing lanes without warning and not paying enough attention to the road, said police.
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