At least ten people lost their lives and several others were injured in a fatal road crash involving a passenger van and a trailer near Methakhel on the Indus Highway in Karak district, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, on Tuesday, according to rescue and police officials.
The collision occurred when the van, which was carrying passengers, crashed head-on into a trailer near the Lucky Ghandaki area, a known accident hotspot due to its sharp turns and high-speed traffic.
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Rescue 1122 personnel reported that ten people died at the scene, while eight others were injured. The injured were rushed to the district headquarters hospital, where an emergency was declared. Several of the injured were in critical condition, and efforts were underway to free those trapped in the wreckage. Authorities feared the death toll could increase.
The victims’ identities remain unconfirmed, but it was reported that the van was traveling from Kohat to Dera Ismail Khan at the time of the crash. Preliminary reports suggest that the driver may have lost control while attempting to overtake another vehicle.
In a separate incident, a passenger coach traveling from Gilgit to Rawalpindi overturned on the Hazara Motorway near Shah Maqsood in Haripur. Two people were killed, and at least 20 others, including three foreign nationals, were injured. Police stated that the driver likely fell asleep at the wheel, causing the vehicle to veer off the road and overturn. Emergency teams promptly arrived on the scene and transported the injured to nearby hospitals.
Authorities have opened investigations into both accidents and urged public transport companies to ensure proper driver rest and vehicle maintenance to prevent such tragic events.
