18 killed in truck-pickup collision in Egypt

At least 18 people, most of them fishermen, were killed in a head-on collision between a truck and a passenger pickup in Egypt’s northeastern Port Said province. Three others were injured and are receiving treatment at a hospital.

Qatar-based media outlet Al Jazeera reported the incident on Friday. According to state-run Al-Ahram, the crash occurred around 12:30 pm local time on Thursday on the “30 June Axis Highway” south of Port Said.

Photos and videos circulating on social media show the pickup crushed between two large cargo trucks. News agency AP reported that several fishermen were travelling in the pickup on their way to work at a fish farm.

Prosecutors have launched an investigation into the cause of the accident.

Fatal road crashes are frequent in Egypt, where thousands of people die in traffic accidents every year. Experts cite speeding, weak road infrastructure and poor enforcement of traffic laws as major causes.