'Reckless driving'

Three soldiers killed, four others injured in multi-vehicle crash on Kirkuk-Baghdad Road

TUZ KHURMATU – A car crash involving three vehicles resulted in the deaths of three soldiers and injuries to four others on Sunday evening, according to local authorities. The crash occurred on the Kirkuk-Baghdad road near the Sarha Bridge, with speeding and reckless driving cited as the primary cause.

Mouayad Abbas, head of the traffic police in Khurmatu district, told 964media, “The incident involved three private vehicles, which collided due to speeding near the Sarha Bridge.” He explained that the crash occurred when a Hyundai Elantra attempted to change lanes. Another vehicle, traveling quickly behind it, lost control, veered off the road, and struck an electric pole, causing it to overturn.

The three passengers in the overturned vehicle were pronounced dead at the scene, while the driver and three others from the Elantra sustained injuries. “The three deceased were soldiers in the Iraqi army,” Abbas confirmed.

The injured were transported to a nearby hospital for treatment, and authorities have launched an investigation into the cause of the accident.

Fatal traffic incidents have been a growing concern across Iraq. In 2023, Iraq reported 3,019 traffic fatalities, a figure closely approaching the total from the previous year. According to the Ministry of Planning, driver error was responsible for 79% of these incidents.

The ministry also recorded 12,314 injuries from traffic accidents in 2023, a slight decrease from 12,677 in 2022. The majority of incidents involved collisions, followed by pedestrian accidents and vehicle rollovers. Contributing factors included vehicle malfunctions, poor road conditions, and pedestrian behavior.