Al Ain: Fifteen people were injured, four of them seriously, in an accident last night when an exhausted minibus driver rammed his vehicle into a parked car on Dubai-Al Ain Highway.

The inured people, all Asians, were taken to the nearest hospital in Al Ain where 11 were released after treatment, according to the Al Ain Traffic Police Department.

The accident occurred near Ghashab Bridge on the highway at around 10.30pm on Sunday night, said a police official. The van was carrying 10 people. The police said the van driver fell asleep and the vehicle rammed into a car, driven by an Asian woman, which was parked on the hard shoulder.

Colonel Mohammad Khalifa Al Khaili, Head of Al Ain Traffic Police, said the accident occurred due to driver fatigue.

He said fatigue does not relieve the driver of a punishment and fine. The traffic chief said drivers must make sure of their ability to drive before taking to the road.

"Putting people's lives in danger or at risk is an offence that cannot go unpunished," he added.

Captain Mohsen Saeed Mansouri, head of the Serious Traffic Accidents Section, has been investigating the case.

In another accident in Dubai, two people sustained injuries after a car flipped over on Dubai Bypass Road yesterday morning.

The accident took place at around 5.45am, when an Asian driver, identified as R.G., was said to be speeding and driving recklessly. He lost control of the car after one of its tyres burst.

The vehicle flipped over and the two passengers were injured, R.G. escaped unharmed. One of the victims sustained serious injuries, while the other sustained moderate injuries.

They were taken to Rashid Hospital's Trauma Centre.