One dead, seven injured in grisly Ajloun accident

AMMAN — One man died and seven people were injured on Monday, some severely, when a trailer truck overturned in the northern town of Anjara and hit eight vehicles at a gas station, according to Ajloun Civil Defence Department (CDD) Director Col. Hani Smadi. 

The trailer, which was carrying a large jackhammer, was on a steep road when the driver lost control and hit the vehicles at the station, Smadi said, noting that CDD personnel who rushed to the scene administered first aid to the injured and took them to Al Iman Public Hospital.

An elderly man died soon after he was admitted to the hospital, due to severe wounds and fractures, according to Omar Qudah, who works at the Ajloun-based hospital. 

The 63-year-old was filling his car with fuel when the incident happened, Qudah told The Jordan Times. He was from a village in Ajloun Governorate, 70km northwest of Amman.  

Another injured man, whose leg had to be amputated as a result of the incident, was transferred to a hospital in Amman, he said, adding that most of the casualties were admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) at Al Iman Public Hospital, while those whose conditions were reported as fair went home. 

Earlier in the day, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, quoted hospital director Ahmad Zghoul as saying some of the injured were admitted to the emergency ward while others were taken to the ICU.  

In addition, 15 sheep that were on board a small pick-up truck were killed in the incident, Qudah confirmed. 

Ajloun Governor Abdullah Al Khattab visited the scene of the accident with Police Director Brig. Gen. Zeyad Bakir and head of the Traffic Department Maj. Ayman Jeryes. 

Khattab said the governorate held a meeting in order to draw up solutions for accidents that have become more frequent on the Hai Al Salos-Anjara road because of its steep inclination, according to Petra.