At least five people have been injured in a serious accident involving eight vehicles and a loaded dump truck on one of Sulaimani's major roads, known as 60 Meter, in the Kurdistan Region. The tragic incident was caused by a dump truck carrying gravel and dirt, which presumably lost its brakes, leading to a collision with multiple vehicles. Medics and traffic police responded to the scene, and the injured victims were rushed to the city's emergency hospital. The truck's driver has been detained by security forces.

Details: The accident occurred on Monday and was captured by CCTV cameras, along with eyewitness accounts. The truck, unable to stop, crashed into at least eight other vehicles, primarily driven by individuals who sustained injuries in the collision. Saman Nadir, the head of the city's emergency hospital, confirmed that five people were taken to the hospital, with one of them, a taxi driver, being in critical condition.

Previous Incidents: Kurdistan Region has experienced a concerning rise in deadly traffic accidents over the past year. In March of the current year, a single-car accident in Erbil resulted in the deaths of at least five people. Similarly, last October, a tragic car accident claimed the lives of eight members of a family in Duhok province.

Causes of Fatal Accidents: Authorities have identified two leading causes of fatal accidents in the region: mobile phone usage and excessive speeding. Additionally, failure to adhere to essential driving safety measures, such as wearing seatbelts, has been a contributing factor. According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, proper seatbelt usage can significantly reduce death rates by 45% and the risk of serious injury by 50%.

Road Safety Measures: To combat the rising trend of traffic accidents and improve road safety, Kurdistan Region traffic authorities have implemented initiatives such as rolling out point-to-point speed cameras along the provinces' main roads.

The incident has drawn attention to the need for increased vigilance and adherence to road safety regulations in the region, as communities grapple with the consequences of these unfortunate accidents.