Cyclist killed in hit-and-run on way to work in Tuz Khurmatu

TUZ KHURMATU — A 30-year-old man was killed Sunday after being struck by a car while riding his bicycle to work in Tuz Khurmatu district, according to local health officials.

Ali Falah, head of the emergency unit at Khurmatu General Hospital, told 964media the victim, identified as Mohammed Ahmed from the Komari neighborhood, worked at a factory in the district. He was heading to work when a vehicle hit him near the Altun City housing project.

“The driver did not stop and fled the scene,” Falah said, adding that the victim’s body was transferred to the forensic department in Kirkuk.

The incident followed another accident late Saturday night, when a resident was seriously injured after being struck by a car in Tuz Khurmatu’s Rizgari neighborhood.

The Tuz Khurmatu experienced a sharp rise in traffic incidents in 2024, with over 40 fatalities and more than 100 injuries reported—a 40% increase from 2023—which included motorcyclists among the victims.

In June, Iraq’s Ministry of Planning reported a 10% decrease in traffic fatalities in 2024 compared with the previous year. The annual report recorded 11,763 incidents across all governorates excluding the Kurdistan Region, including 2,103 fatal crashes that caused 2,719 deaths, down from 3,019 in 2023. Men accounted for 82% of fatalities, with 2,235 deaths.

Traffic accidents injured 11,896 people in 2024, a 3.4% decline from the previous year. Despite the decrease, officials say poor infrastructure, speeding, distracted driving, and weak enforcement remain major risks.