Bus crash near Koya leaves one dead, 26 injured

KOYA — A bus crash on the road between Koya and Dukan districts resulted in 26 injuries and one fatality on Tuesday afternoon. The crash occurred around 2:00 p.m. when a bus carrying 41 passengers, including teachers and students from a Quranic education center in Erbil, overturned.

Dr. Kameran Abbas, the general director of Koya’s health, told 964media that medical teams were ready to receive the injured immediately after the crash. He noted that while most injuries are minor and not life-threatening, one person was transferred to Erbil for further treatment.

Nali Saadun, a child passenger, described the crash to 964media from Shaheed Dr. Khalid Hospital in Koya district. “The bus lost control and overturned four or five times,” he said, adding that while he is in good health, he remains worried about his friends and teachers.

Khayrullah Khider, who was at the hospital, confirmed that the deceased was Osman Qaladzey, a teacher at the Quranic center.

In 2023, traffic accidents were the leading cause of death in the Sulaymaniyah governorate, accounting for nearly 25% of the 592 total deaths examined, with over 83% of the victims being male.

Nationally, Iraq reported over 3,262 traffic fatalities in 2023, excluding the Kurdistan Region, according to the Ministry of Planning. Driver error was responsible for 56.4% of these crashes, with other contributing factors including vehicle issues, road conditions, and pedestrian behavior.

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