A scene from the traffic accident on the Kirkuk–Erbil road, where a car carrying students collided with a vehicle transporting workers. (Photo: 964media)
'Speeding'
Nine injured in traffic incident on Kirkuk–Erbil road
KIRKUK — A traffic incident occurred Tuesday morning on the Kirkuk–Erbil road involving a passenger car carrying students to a local university in Kirkuk and a Kia pickup truck transporting workers engaged in corn harvesting.
Nine people, including students and laborers, were injured in the crash and transported to the Altun Kupri Health Center for treatment.
Eyewitnesses said the car driver was at fault. “The Camry was speeding,” one witness said. “It was clear the driver lost control.”
No official statement has yet been issued by the traffic police to determine responsibility for the crash.
Residents described the road as dangerous and prone to incidents, especially because of speeding. They are asking for cameras to be installed to reduce the danger.
Nationwide figures from Iraq’s Ministry of Planning show a 10% decline in traffic deaths in 2024 compared with the previous year. The annual report listed 11,763 incidents across governorates outside the Kurdistan Region, including 2,103 fatal crashes that killed 2,719 people, down from 3,019 in 2023. Men accounted for 82% of those fatalities.
Although overall numbers fell, authorities say speeding, poor infrastructure, distracted driving, and weak enforcement remain key causes of deadly accidents.