Two people were killed and 42 others injured in a collision involving 10 vehicles – including trucks, buses, microbuses, and private cars – on the Cairo-Suez Desert Road, near Badr City in Cairo.
Security sources said the accident occurred on the way from Suez to Cairo, when a truck-trailer collided with several vehicles partially parked on the side of the road, triggering a chain reaction between the other vehicles across 50 meters.
The collision completely destroyed several vehicles and spilled diesel fuel over an area of approximately five meters, necessitating the intervention of Civil Defense forces to secure the area and prevent a fire.
Preliminary investigations revealed that the truck-trailer was the cause of the accident, after its driver lost control while driving at high speed.
The collision also damaged nine other vehicles.
The General Directorate of Civil Defense in Cairo dispatched land rescue teams and several fire engines to the accident site immediately after receiving the report.
Several injured people were extracted from the mangled vehicles with the help of local residents.
Sources explained that ambulances transported the injured to Badr Hospital, al-Salam International Hospital, and Fifth Settlement Hospital for treatment, while the deceased were deposited in the morgue pending the Public Prosecution’s disposal.
Traffic forces also responded to remove the debris from the accident site and restore traffic, which had been halted for hours due to scattered debris.
Traces of diesel fuel were also removed with sand to secure the road and prevent slipping.
Investigations underway
Security sources reported that the Public Prosecution was notified of the incident, and the Badr Prosecution office began investigating the circumstances of the accident.
It requested technical reports from forensic experts on the condition of the vehicles and an estimate of the damage. It also tasked police detectives with conducting the necessary investigations to determine the reasons why the driver of the truck-trailer lost control of the vehicle.
Preliminary investigations indicate that excessive speed and inattentive driving were likely causes of the accident, along with heavy traffic in the area on Saturday morning.
Security sources said that most of the injured suffered fractures and bruises, and that some cases were described as critical. Doctors continue their efforts to save the lives of the injured in intensive care units.
Edited translation from Al-Masry Al-Youm
