Car crash kills five, including two children, in Erbil

A mother, her son and daughter, and two grandchildren, were killed in the incident.
The crashed car, in which five were killed, as a result of a fall from mountain pass, March 13, 2023. (Photo: Submitted to Kurdistan 24)
The crashed car, in which five were killed, as a result of a fall from mountain pass, March 13, 2023. (Photo: Submitted to Kurdistan 24)

ERBIL (Kurdistan 24) – At least five people have died when their vehicle overturned on a mountain pass in northern Erbil, marking one of the deadliest car accidents that the Kurdish region has witnessed recently.

A mother, her son and daughter, and two grandchildren, were killed in the incident, according to a statement from the local police. 

“They were on a family trip to Ranya,” Nizar Chato, the son of the killed mother, told Kurdistan 24 on Monday. Four others have been wounded in the deadly incident.

Also, on Friday, another bloody accident in Akre resulted in the death of three people returning home from a picnic.

Mobile phone usage and excessive speeding are two leading causes of fatal accidents, as well as not adhering to driving safety measures, such as wearing seatbelts. According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the use of seatbelts reduces death rates by 45% and serious injury by 50%. 

Extending his condolences to the families of the victims, PM Barzani asked the Ministry of Interior to tighten measures, including issuing driving licenses, according to a statement issued by the premier.

“It is very appalling and sad that a great number of our people die in traffic accidents every year in the Kurdistan Region,” PM Barzani said, urging drivers to comply with driving safety measures.