Traffic incidents on Kirkuk-Baghdad highway cause eight deaths, 22 injuries in 72 hours

NEWSROOM — Traffic incidents on the Kirkuk-Baghdad highway have resulted in eight deaths and 22 injuries over the past 72 hours, according to Muayad Abbas, director of traffic police in Tuz Khurmatu.

Abbas told 964media that among the deceased were women and children, and he added that four of the injured are in critical condition. He attributed the accidents to excessive speed, driver errors, and cell phone use while driving.

According to Abbas, traffic accidents on the Kirkuk-Baghdad Road increased by 15% in February compared to the same period last year. In the Tuz Khurmatu district of Salah Al-Din, the annual number of traffic incident victims rose by 40% in 2024 compared with 2023. In 2024 alone, 112 people were injured in traffic incidents, while 45 others lost their lives.

Tuz Khurmatu serves as a strategic corridor connecting the Kurdistan Region with Baghdad. Traffic accidents frequently occur along this route, and in some cases, incidents are resolved privately between citizens without being officially reported to traffic authorities.