A Sharjah restaurant escaped what could have been a catastrophic incident on Tuesday evening when a taxi plowed through its glass entrance. The alarming event, captured on video and widely circulated online, occurred at the Bundoo Khan Pakistani restaurant in the Al Nabba area at approximately 8:30 PM.
According to Fazal Rahman Abbasi, the restaurant’s general manager, the driver mistakenly pressed the accelerator instead of the brake pedal after being startled by a honking vehicle on the narrow roadway. The impact immediately deployed the vehicle’s airbags, which likely prevented serious injury to the driver.
Miraculously, no patrons or staff members were injured in the incident. “Fortunately, nobody was near the entrance at that moment, and everyone emerged unscathed,” Abbasi confirmed. “The driver appeared shaken but otherwise unharmed.”
Local authorities responded promptly to the scene, facilitating assistance for both parties involved. The restaurant management indicated that insurance would cover the structural damages, with repairs expected to be completed within a day. Despite the dramatic entrance destruction, Bundoo Khan continued serving customers without interruption.
This incident echoes a concerning pattern of similar vehicular accidents across the UAE. Historical records reveal multiple instances where drivers confused pedals or lost control, resulting in property damage and occasional injuries. Notable cases include a 2013 Dubai tragedy that claimed three lives when an intoxicated driver crashed into a restaurant kitchen, and a 2016 Ajman incident where a medical episode led to fatal consequences.
The frequency of these events highlights ongoing challenges with vehicle control in urban environments, particularly in areas with limited parking space and high pedestrian traffic. While this latest incident concluded without physical injuries, it underscores the potential dangers posed by momentary driver confusion in densely populated areas.