Suspected drink driving incident in Shatt al-Arab proves fatal

BASRA – One person died in a severe car accident involving three vehicles in the Kardalan area of the Shatt al-Arab district, a security source reported today.

The Basra Police confirmed that the driver responsible for the accident, a young man born in 2005, fled the scene. Authorities say they found alcoholic beverages in his vehicle. The passenger accompanying him was arrested.

The accident involved a Chevrolet Suburban, a GMC Yukon, and a parked white pickup truck. “The high speed and loss of control by the driver of the GMC Yukon caused the vehicle to collide with the Suburban, overturning it onto the parked pickup truck,” a security source told 964media.

The source added, “The driver of the Suburban died in the crash. The Yukon was heavily damaged, and the parked pickup truck and a nearby motorcycle were also affected.”

In a statement, Basra Police reported, “The collision in Shatt al-Arab resulted in the death of the first party, a young worker driving the Chevrolet. The second party, born in 2005, fled the scene, leaving behind the GMC, which contained alcoholic beverages. The passenger accompanying the driver was arrested.”

Iraq started enforcing an alcohol ban in 2023. Despite the ban, some places continue to sell alcohol, and enforcement of the law varies across regions. Consuming alcohol while driving remains a serious offense under Iraqi law, with penalties including fines, imprisonment, and revocation of driving licenses.