By Hani Hazaimeh
AMMAN - At least 23 people were killed and 33 others were injured when a public transportation bus collided with a water tanker on the Amman-Jerash highway yesterday, police said.
According to a Public Security Department (PSD) source, a total of 53 passengers were on board the bus, which was heading from Amman to Irbid when it slid off the main road near Salhoub Bridge, 20km north of Amman, and hit a cliff foot then ricocheted and hit a water tanker.
Both vehicles rolled over down a steep valley, said the source, adding that the tanker’s three passengers were among the dead.
More than 60 PSD and Civil Defence Department (CDD) vehicles and 300 personnel from both agencies participated in rescue operations, PSD Spokesperson Major Mohammad Khatib said.
CDD Spokesperson Captain Bassem Khleif told The Jordan Times that due to the high number of causalities, rescue teams transported the victims to several surrounding hospitals.
Jerash Public Hospital Director Yousef Gogazeh said the hospital received 19 deaths and 13 injuries, five of whom were in critical condition.
According to CDD, three injuries were sent to Al Hussein Medical City, seven to Al Israa Hospital, seven to Queen Alia Hospital, three to the University of Jordan Hospital, while one death and two injuries were sent to the Salt Public Hospital.
Also yesterday, one person died and 13 were injured in two other separate accidents which occurred in Karak Governorate, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.
The accidents come as the Kingdom is engaged in a debate over a new harsher traffic law.
The new law, introduced by the former government of prime minister Marouf Bakhit, is seen as a necessity as the number of people killed in road accidents is constantly on the rise.
However, the Lower House rejected the draft law for the stipulated stiffer penalties which include huge fines and prison terms. The bill is still under discussion in the Senate.
Around 94,257 road accidents were reported in 2007, resulting in the death of 789 people and the injury of 12,989. They cost the Kingdom JD255 million, while over the past 20 years, traffic accidents have claimed the lives of 11,000 citizens, according to official figures.
