Family of three killed in car crash near Kirkuk

KIRKUK — A car crash near Kirkuk’s Jabal Bour fuel station on Friday evening claimed the lives of a family of three, including a father, mother, and their young daughter.

The victims were identified as Maher Najat Hakim, 30, a resident of the Rahimawa neighborhood, his wife, Rinas Raouf, 31, and their daughter, Helian Maher Najat. A medical source told 964media that the accident occurred on the Kirkuk bypass road when two vehicles collided, resulting in one of the vehicles catching fire.

Local authorities have launched an investigation to determine the cause of the collision.

Traffic fatalities remain a significant issue across Iraq. According to the Ministry of Planning, 3,019 deaths from traffic incidents were recorded nationally in 2023, excluding the Kurdistan Region, with 79% of cases attributed to driver error.

Additionally, 12,314 injuries were reported last year, reflecting a slight decline from the 12,677 injuries recorded in 2022. Other contributing factors include mechanical failures, poor road conditions, and pedestrian behavior.