Seven Dead in Overturned Three-Wheeler Accident in El Kelâa des Sraghna

Doha – A tragic road accident claimed seven lives on Sunday, when a three-wheeler vehicle overturned on National Road N23 in the commune of Sour El Aaz, El Kelâa des Sraghna province.

The vehicle was carrying 14 passengers heading to a summer recreation site when it flipped over in circumstances that remain under investigation.

Local authorities reported that seven passengers died immediately at the scene, including the driver. Seven others sustained injuries of varying severity and were evacuated to provincial hospitals for emergency treatment.

Upon notification, local authorities, Royal Gendarmerie, and Civil Protection services quickly arrived at the accident site to provide necessary assistance and secure the area. Multiple ambulances were deployed to transport the injured victims.

Three of the injured were admitted to Demnate Hospital, including an eight-year-old child. According to Adil Ait Haddou, Provincial Delegate of the Ministry of Health and Social Protection in Azilal, their condition is moderately serious and requires transfer to the University Hospital Center (CHU) in Marrakech for specialized medical care in surgery and neurology.

The Provincial Hospital of El Kelâa des Sraghna received four injured passengers, including three children. The hospital director confirmed these victims suffered fractures to their limbs and are currently being treated in the intensive care unit.

The King’s Prosecutor at the Court of First Instance of El Kelâa des Sraghna has ordered an investigation into the accident.

The prosecutor’s office also directed the monitoring of the injured victims’ health status and the transfer of the deceased to the provincial hospital morgue to expedite burial procedures.

The Royal Gendarmerie’s judicial division is conducting the investigation under the supervision of the prosecutor’s office to determine the exact circumstances of this accident and establish responsibility.

The fatal crash has once again brought attention to the dangers posed by three-wheeled motorcycles, locally known as “triporteurs,” on Moroccan roads. The tragedy has prompted calls for increased government oversight and regulation.

Labor union representatives have blamed the continuing deadly accidents on persistent government negligence. They point to the lack of import controls on these vehicles and insufficient road monitoring by specialized agencies, noting that triporteurs freely roam Moroccan streets for all types of uses despite not being designed for passenger transport.

Human rights activists have described the El Kelâa accident as a “road crime,” explaining that victims often use these vehicles due to their low cost. They emphasize that local authorities and the government bear responsibility for the continuation of this deadly phenomenon through inadequate supervision, especially on rough roads.

Official statistics reveal the severity of Morocco’s road safety crisis, with 26 people killed and 3,034 injured in 2,250 traffic accidents recorded in urban areas during the last week of May alone. Primary causes include driver inattention, failure to respect right of way, pedestrian carelessness, and excessive speed.

As Morocco celebrated Eid al-Adha this past weekend, authorities had issued warnings about increased traffic volumes and safety recommendations for travelers, urging citizens to plan trips in advance, check traffic conditions, and ensure vehicle maintenance to prevent accidents during the holiday period.