Drunk driver who killed 6 of a Saudi family executed

A drunk Saudi motorist who killed six members of a Saudi family four years ago in Riyadh’s Al-Yasmeen district was executed on Tuesday.

Mohammad Al-Qahtani, who was driving under the influence of alcohol, crashed into another vehicle killing Abdulmalik Al-Dihaim, sisters Hissah Al-Dihaim, Nada Al-Dihaim, Nuha Al-Dihaim, Abeer Al-Dihaim and their niece Norah Al-Dihaim. The incident also resulted in injuries to Al-Jowhara Al-Dihaim. They are all Saudis.

Abdulmalik Al-Dihaim, who was studying in Britain, was visiting his homeland to perform pilgrimage in October of 2013.

After performing pilgrimage, he stayed with his family for two hours and took his sisters and two nieces on a ride in his new Audi.

The victim was driving by Anas Bin Malik roundabout at 1:45 a.m. when the 41-year-old drunk driver crashed into a pavement then hit the victim’s Audi causing it to topple over and kill five people on the spot.

Abeer was 19 years old, Nada and Nuha were twins aged 21 years and Hissah was 25 years old working at a private school. Their niece Norah was only three years of age. She sustained a critical brain injury which led to her death days after the accident. The youngest of the victims was 2-year-old Al-Jowhara who suffered multiple fractures.

When paramedics arrived at the site of the accident, they found that the driver, who caused the crash, was heavily drunk. Forensic report stated that Al-Qahtani was driving at high speed.

Abdulrahman Al-Majed, a relative of the victims, said Al-Qahtani was drunk and was driving at 180 to 200 km per hour.

This is not an accident, this is murder, he said.

Al-Qahtani was remorseful

Al-Qahtani had told Okaz reporters after the fatal crash four years ago that he did not deserve to live.

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