Egypt Daily News – In his first confession before the investigative authorities, the truck driver accused in the regional road accident said that he did not intend to cause the tragedy that claimed the lives of 18 young women and a microbus driver, stating: “I’m not reckless, and I was only driving at 50 km/h.”
The defendant, whose detention was extended for 15 days by the investigating judge, added that he was surprised by a large rock in the middle of the road while driving. He said: “The steering wheel slipped suddenly, I didn’t see the rock, the vehicle went over it because of the roadworks, and I hit the microbus unintentionally.”
During the investigation, he emphasized: “I’ve been driving for years, I was fully alert, I’ve never taken drugs, and I didn’t mean to kill anyone. My heart aches for what happened, I have daughters the same age.”
The regional road within the Ashmoun district of Menoufia Governorate witnessed a horrific tragedy last Friday morning, when a heavy transport truck collided with a microbus carrying 22 female workers from grape farms. The accident resulted in the death of 19 people, including 18 young women and the microbus driver, in addition to injuring three others.
Initial reports indicated that the truck breached the central barrier of the road due to a loss of control of the steering wheel, veering off course and crashing head-on into the microbus. Investigations revealed wear and tear in the truck’s tires, along with ongoing road maintenance at the scene.
