Bodies of Erbil family killed in Baghdad crash returned home for burial

ERBIL — The bodies of an Erbil family killed in a car crash on Friday near Baghdad were returned to Erbil on Saturday, with burial ceremonies scheduled and an official investigation ongoing, relatives said.

The crash occurred Friday, May 25, 2025, near the Shaab checkpoint on the Baghdad road. The victims included a mother, a father, and one of their two children. The second child survived with injuries.

Haji Fakher Mohsen, a relative of the family, told 964media that the burial would take place today, with condolences to be held tomorrow. “We are waiting for the results of the investigation into the accident to know who was responsible,” he said, adding that the injured child remains hospitalized but is in stable condition.

Family members of the truck driver involved in the crash, who returned to Erbil along with the victims’ bodies, expressed deep sorrow over the tragedy. “We feel great pain over what happened and are ready to do whatever is needed to help ease the grief of the Erbil family,” one relative told 964media.

Authorities confirmed that the truck driver has been arrested and remains in detention pending the outcome of the investigation.

Ariwan Hama Amin, a Kurdish resident of Sulaymaniyah working in Baghdad, told 964media that he and a colleague rushed to the hospital after hearing news of the accident. “After hearing the news, we immediately went to the hospital to assist the family,” he said. “Both parents and one child lost their lives, while another child survived but was wounded.”

Amin said he and his colleague remained at the hospital with the injured child until the family arrived.