Student killed while crossing road in Al-Khalis

DIYALA– A female student was killed Sunday morning in a traffic incident while crossing road in the Diyala’s Al-Khalis district, according to local traffic authorities.

The local traffic officials told 964media that the student was attempting to cross the road to reach her university transportation vehicle when she was struck by a car traveling at high speed.

The driver reportedly lost control and hit the student, who died at the scene.

The victim was a 20-year-old resident of Al-Khalis district. Authorities said the driver of the vehicle turned himself in to the district police.

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.