Traffic officer dies, two civilians injured in taxi rollover

DHI QAR — A traffic police officer died and two civilians were injured on Tuesday in a taxi rollover on the road connecting Al-Fuhod district and Nasiriyah city in Dhi Qar governorate.

A local security source told 964media that a contracted officer from the Al-Fuhod Traffic Detachment died, while two civilians, including the taxi driver, were injured when a Kia Optima taxi overturned near the Sayyid Dakhil junction.

“The vehicle veered off course, overturned, and fell into a nearby canal due to excessive speed,” the source added.

The officer’s body was transferred to the forensic medicine department, while the injured were taken to Nasiriyah Teaching Hospital for treatment. Authorities have launched an investigation into the incident.

Traffic accidents continue to be a major concern in Iraq. Yesterday, a first-grade student in Al-Warka district, Muthanna, lost her life after being hit by a speeding vehicle while crossing the street in front of Aba Dhar Primary School.

In 2023, excluding the Kurdistan Region, the country recorded 11,552 traffic accidents, leading to 3,019 fatalities and 12,314 injuries. This represents a slight rise from 2022, which saw 11,523 accidents and 3,021 deaths. Driver error was responsible for nearly 79% of these incidents, while vehicle defects and poor road conditions contributed to the rest.