Truck crash in Mosul leaves driver critically injured, trailer hanging off bridge

MOSUL — A truck crash on Mosul’s Third Bridge in Al-Shorta neighborhood early Thursday morning left the vehicle’s cab plunging off the bridge while the trailer remained precariously hanging over the edge.

Witnesses told 964media that the driver lost control due to excessive speed. “The crash resulted in the destruction of the vehicle and critically injured the driver, who was taken to the hospital. The trailer breached the metal barrier but remained hanging,” one witness said.

This incident is part of a growing trend of road accidents in Iraq. In June, the Ministry of Planning reported 3,019 traffic fatalities in 2023, nearly matching 2022’s toll. Driver error was identified as the leading cause in 79% of these accidents.

The ministry’s data also showed 12,314 injuries from accidents in 2023, a slight decline from 12,677 in 2022. Collisions accounted for the majority of incidents, followed by pedestrian accidents and rollovers. Vehicle malfunctions, poor road conditions, and pedestrian behavior were also noted as contributing factors.