Five dead in Salahaddin car accident

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - At least five members of one family were killed and another five people were injured in a midnight traffic accident in Iraq’s central Salahaddin province, a local official said on Saturday.

“The accident occurred around 12:00 AM last night on the road to Ishaqi subdistrict, south of Samarra,” Kawa Sheikhani, security advisor to Salahaddin’s governor, told Rudaw.

The family was returning from Mosul to Baghdad when the driver lost control of the car due to speeding, crossed over to the opposite lane, and collided with three other vehicles, Sheikhani said.

Car accidents are a common occurrence in Iraq where years of war, neglect, and corruption have left its infrastructure in poor condition. Roads are often full of potholes, going unrepaired for years, and lack proper illumination, making it harder for drivers to see at night.

Nahro Mohammed contributed to this report.