Five dead, three injured in Tikrit fuel tanker collision

SALAH AL-DIN — Five people were killed and three others injured in a traffic incident involving two cars and a fuel tanker on Saturday evening along the Tikrit–Baiji highway in Salah Al-Din Governorate, near the military camp area, witnesses reported.

Eyewitnesses told 964 media that excessive speed and improper overtaking caused the crash. The collision involved a fuel tanker, a taxi, and a private vehicle.

“The incident happened due to high speed and reckless overtaking, leading the Sedan to lose control,” an eyewitness said. “This resulted in the tanker overturning, the Sedan being crushed, and damage to the Corolla.”.

The crash claimed the lives of five individuals — three women and two men — while the tanker driver and another woman were transported to the hospital in critical condition. A baby miraculously survived the accident unharmed.

Traffic accidents remain a significant concern in Iraq, with recent data indicating persistent challenges in road safety. In 2023, the Ministry of Planning reported 11,552 traffic accidents, resulting in 3,019 fatalities and 12,314 injuries. This reflects a slight increase from 2022, which saw 11,523 accidents leading to 3,021 deaths and 12,677 injuries.

Driver error was identified as the leading cause, accounting for 79% of accidents, followed by vehicle-related issues (8.1%) and poor road conditions (6.2%). Collisions were the most common type of accident, comprising 56.4% of cases.