Cyclist killed in high-speed collision in Tuz Khurmatu

TUZ KHURMATU — A 74-year-old cyclist died after being hit by a speeding car near the southern entrance of the Tuz Khurmatu district on Friday morning.

Ihsan Abbas, a traffic official in Tuz Khurmatu, said the victim had breakfast at a restaurant near the district gate before heading back into town. As he crossed the main Kirkuk-Baghdad Road, a fast-moving vehicle struck him, killing him at the scene. His body was later transferred to Tuz Khurmatu Hospital. The cyclist, a resident of Albu Hasat village on the district’s outskirts, was reportedly in town visiting a relative.

“It was early in the morning; he had his breakfast and was on his way to see his relative, but he didn’t get the chance because of this accident,” Abbas said.

Local traffic authorities have recorded more than 40 fatalities and over 100 injuries in 2024—a 40% increase over 2023—in Tuz Khurmatu. The district, which serves as a strategic corridor connecting the Kurdistan Region with Baghdad, frequently witnesses traffic incidents. In some cases, accidents are resolved privately without being officially reported.