KABUL, June 2 (Xinhua) -- At least eight commuters were killed and 16 others injured when their vehicle veered off a mountain road and plunged into a deep ravine in eastern Afghanistan's Parwan province on Tuesday, according to a local police official.
The fatal incident occurred on the outskirts of the Astama region in Shinwari district, where the driver lost control of the vehicle, said Fazul Rahim Muskenyar, the provincial police spokesman. The accident claimed the lives of eight passengers on the spot, including four children, while leaving 16 others injured.
Muskenyar attributed the mishap to reckless driving. All the injured have been transferred to Parwan provincial hospital for treatment, though most remain in critical condition, he added.
The incident comes just days after a similar disaster in eastern Laghman province on Saturday, when an overloaded truck carrying recently returned Afghan refugees overturned, killing 18 people and injuring 30 others.
Road accidents are endemic across Afghanistan, driven by poorly maintained roads, hazardous driving practices, treacherous mountain terrain, chronic overloading, illegal overtaking, and excessive speeding. ■
