Riyadh - A Saudi Arabian woman killed two people whilst illegally driving a truck, local media reported on Thursday. Women are banned from driving in the conservative Muslim country.

The woman crashed into a car, killing two of its passengers. One of them died instantly and the other died shortly afterwards at al- Duadmi hospital, the Saudi Arabian al-Watan news paper reported.

The incident could weaken the case of women's activists who have long pressed for women to have the right to drive. According to Saudi Islamic law women are prohibited from driving for religious reasons.

Police arrested the Saudi woman after she tried to escape. (dpa)