Truck overturns near Darbandikhan, killing driver

SULAYMANIYAH — A truck traveling toward Darbandikhan overturned Wednesday evening, killing the driver, local officials said.

Darbandikhan District Commissioner Sulaiman Mohammed told 964media that “the truck overturned at the Pary Darya roundabout.” He said the vehicle had been carrying alcohol and was likely headed to southern Iraq.

“The driver died at the scene,” Sulaiman said, identifying the deceased as a man about 60 years old.

Officials noted that the same area has seen several similar incidents in the past involving overturned tankers and trucks, resulting in both fatalities and material damage.

Traffic accidents remain a persistent concern in Sulaymaniyah. In the first half of 2024, officials recorded 111 fatalities. The Sulaymaniyah Traffic Directorate reported 1,047 traffic incidents in 2023, which caused 153 deaths and 1,887 injuries.

Nationwide, Iraq’s Ministry of Planning reported a 10% decline in traffic deaths in 2024 compared with the previous year. The annual report cited 11,763 incidents 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.

Despite the drop, authorities say speeding, poor road infrastructure, distracted driving, and weak enforcement remain major causes of deadly accidents.