The Public Prosecution has filed multiple charges against the regional road driver accused of causing the deaths of 19 people and injuring 3 others. He has been referred to the competent criminal court for an urgent hearing to consider the case.
The charges include drug use involving hashish and methamphetamine, committing two counts of involuntary manslaughter and injury, driving against the flow of traffic on a public road, holding an unqualified license for driving transport vehicles, driving under the influence of drugs, causing damage to industrial facilities located on the road, and damaging a vehicle owned by another party due to negligence.
During investigations, the accused, Sami Nasser, recounted details of the tragic accident that occurred on June 27, 2025, at around 8:00 a.m., on the regional road near Kartet Al-Khattaba in Ashmoun district, Menoufia governorate. He explained that he was driving a trailer truck at approximately 50 km/h, heading from Kartet Al-Khattaba towards Banha Al-Har.
He noted that while driving, he noticed a microbus in front of him, so he moved to the far northern side of the road to overtake it. At that moment, he saw a large rock, roughly tomato-sized, protruding slightly at the intersection point between the two roads. This forced him to swerve quickly to avoid it.
The accused added that this sudden maneuver caused him to lose control of the vehicle, resulting in the truck veering and colliding with other vehicles traveling in the opposite direction, which led to the catastrophic accident that caused 19 deaths and 3 injuries.
He also pointed out that the regional road suffers from maintenance problems, especially at intersections, where hazards contribute to frequent accidents. He called on the concerned authorities to take urgent measures to improve road safety.
This incident highlights the critical need to tighten monitoring of traffic violations, strictly prohibit driving under the influence of drugs, and improve road infrastructure to reduce fatal accidents.
