A tragic Abbottabad accident claimed three children’s lives and injured five when a dumper truck struck them near Lady Garden Park.
On Friday, September 5, 2025, at approximately 8:00 AM, a dumper truck ran over eight schoolchildren in Abbottabad, Pakistan, killing three and injuring five near Lady Garden public park, prompting local protests and a police manhunt for the fleeing driver.
The Abbottabad accident underscores the persistent road safety crisis in Pakistan, where weak traffic law enforcement and reckless driving contribute to frequent tragedies, raising urgent concerns about protecting vulnerable pedestrians, especially children, in South Asia’s urban areas.
Details of the Abbottabad Accident
The accident occurred as a group of schoolchildren were crossing the road near Lady Garden public park in Abbottabad, a city in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP). According to Abbottabad police spokesperson Azam Mir Afzal, the dumper truck struck the children, resulting in three fatalities on the spot. The five injured children were promptly transported to the District Headquarters (DHQ) Hospital for emergency treatment. “The accident took place as the schoolchildren were crossing the road,” Afzal stated.
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Rescue 1122 spokesperson Bilal Ahmad Faizi confirmed that a rescue team was dispatched immediately after receiving reports of the incident. “The bodies of the deceased, as well as the injured children, were taken to the DHQ Hospital,” Faizi said. Hospital officials later confirmed that the injured children were in stable condition and receiving treatment.
Community Response and Protests
The tragedy sparked outrage among local residents and the victims’ families, who staged a protest by blocking the Old Karakoram Highway. The demonstrators demanded the immediate arrest of the dumper truck driver, who fled the scene. Police spokesperson Afzal noted that the protest ended after negotiations, with authorities assuring the crowd that efforts to apprehend the driver were underway. A First Information Report (FIR) has been registered against the driver, and the dumper truck has been seized, though the suspect remains at large.
Systemic Road Safety Issues
The Abbottabad accident highlights systemic issues in Pakistan’s road safety framework. Heavy vehicles like dumper trucks are frequently involved in fatal accidents due to reckless driving, overloading, and inadequate vehicle maintenance. Weak enforcement of traffic regulations exacerbates the problem, with many drivers lacking proper training or operating under fatigue. According to a 2023 report by the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics, over 7,000 road accidents were recorded annually, with heavy vehicles contributing significantly. Updated nationwide figures for 2025 have not yet been released.
In Abbottabad, similar incidents have occurred in recent years. In August 2024, four members of a tourist family from Punjab were killed when a truck hit them due to brake failure, highlighting the recurring nature of such tragedies.
Official Response and Investigation
The police have launched a manhunt to locate the driver, with raids ongoing in the Abbottabad area. The investigation is focused on determining the cause of the accident, with preliminary reports confirming that speeding and driver negligence were the primary factors. The KP government has not yet issued a formal statement on the incident, but local authorities have pledged to enhance road safety measures near schools and public parks.
Rescue 1122’s swift response was praised, with teams ensuring the victims received immediate medical attention. However, the incident has reignited calls for stricter traffic regulations and better oversight of heavy vehicle operations in urban areas.
Background
Pakistan’s road safety challenges are well-documented, with dumper truck accidents a recurring issue. In May 2025, five people were killed in Lahore when a dumper truck overturned, and in February 2025, a similar incident in Bhind, India, claimed five lives. These incidents reflect a broader regional problem of inadequate traffic infrastructure and lax enforcement, particularly in areas with high pedestrian traffic like schools and parks. In Abbottabad, the proximity of Lady Garden Park to schools makes it a high-risk zone for such accidents.
What’s Next
As the investigation into the Abbottabad accident continues, authorities face pressure to apprehend the driver and implement measures to prevent future tragedies. Community demands for enhanced road safety near schools and stricter penalties for negligent drivers are likely to intensify, with the Abbottabad accident serving as a stark reminder of the need for systemic reform.
Published in SouthAsianDesk, September 5th, 2025
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