Egypt Daily News – A criminal court in Shebin El-Kom has sentenced a truck driver to 15 years in prison after finding him guilty of causing a deadly collision on the regional ring road in Menoufia Governorate that left 18 young women and driver dead and three others injured. The ruling followed confirmation that the driver was under the influence of drugs at the time of the crash.
The fatal accident occurred when a minibus carrying a group of female students and workers collided with a truck on the highway. All the victims were from the village of Kafr Al-Sanabsa and had been traveling for work during the summer break. The tragedy drew widespread sorrow across Egypt, as the victims were mostly school and university students striving to support their families financially.
Court proceedings began on Tuesday, with families of the victims in attendance. The atmosphere in the courtroom turned emotional as grieving parents watched the accused appear behind bars. Forensic reports submitted during the trial confirmed the presence of narcotics in the driver’s system at the time of the incident.
In response to the tragedy, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi ordered increased compensation for the victims’ families. Each family of the deceased will receive 100,000 Egyptian pounds, while injured survivors will be granted 25,000 pounds. These payments come in addition to support provided by the Ministries of Labor and Social Solidarity, plus donors that surpassed 2.5 million per affected family.
As part of efforts to honor the memory of the young women, the government announced that public buildings and streets in Kafr Al-Sanabsa will be renamed after the 19 victims. The move aims to preserve their legacy within their local community, marking a lasting tribute to lives lost in one of the year’s most heart-wrenching incidents.
